Kurt Gödel’s Philosophical Remarks (Max Phil)

Abstract

The authors describe the construction, development and content of Kurt Godel’s Philosophical Remarks—the Max Phil notebooks—for the first time in detail and giving a thorough technical description of them. The Max Phil notebooks are part of the Nachlass that is handed down to us in the shorthand Gabelsberger. The notebooks start as an intellectual diary and then evolve to be philosophical notebooks that contain an outline of Godel’s rational metaphysics as well as some of his reflections on logic, mathematics, physics, biology, history, philology and theology. Crocco and Engelen make a first attempt to relate these reflections to Godel’s published work and to his scientific oeuvre to make it clear why they enlarge our knowledge of Godel’s thinking. They then go on to offer first insights into the content of the Philosophical Remarks. This article not only gives an insight into Godel’s philosophical work that is not yet known to the academic world but it also constitutes the background to classify the publication of notebook Max Phil X within the context of the Max Phil notebooks in their entirety.