Among those concerned with mathematical logic and axiomatics, the
impact of Gödel's 1931 theorems on first-order arithmetic was fairly
rapid and positive, although a few notable figures were a little slow to
recognize them. But the reception in the mathematical community in
general was much slower and more muted. Evidence for this impression is
presented from the literature, especially from general books on
mathematics. The slowness is itself evidence of the ambiguous attitude
that mathematicians have usually shown toward logic. Bibliographies of
pertinent works related to the theorems are presented in three tables,
and a more general bibliography is also included. |