The Limits of Mathematics - Quest Lecture Series

Date:    Thursday, January 12, 2012
Time:    7 pm
Where:  Community Room
Audience:  Adults

QUEST LECTURE SERIES: The Limits of Mathematics
Join Ryan Derby-Talbot, mathematics professor from Quest University, for a lecture on the limitations of mathematics.

Given how much we rely on mathematics today with our use of technology, we may find that we easily agree with Galileo's sentiment that the book of the universe "is written in the language of mathematics." Bolstered by the achievements of science, we may speculate that all of life, the universe and everything can be packaged inside a mathematical framework, that there is an "equation of everything" just waiting to be discovered. Well, as it turns out this just isn't so. Mathematics actually has some serious limitations due to the internal nature of logic itself.

In this talk, we will recount the discoveries of several of these limitations from ancient geometry through modern computing, and discuss what implications they have for our world today.  No mathematical background is needed, just an interest in science, philosophy, and/or the nature of reality.

Free admission. Seating is limited, come early.

To learn more about Ryan's career please visit the Quest University website.

This event is co-sponsored by Quest University & the Whistler Public Library.