24.118
Paradox and Infinity
Presents highlights of the more technical side of philosophy. Studies a cluster of puzzles, paradoxes, and intellectual wonders - from the higher infinite to Godel's Theorem - and discusses their philosophical implications. Recommended prerequisites: 6.100A , 18.01 . Enrollment limited.
Spring 2019
Topics
- Introduction
- Infinite Cardinalities (1)
- Infinite Cardinalities (2)
- Infinite Cardinalities (3)
- The Higher Infinite (1)
- The Higher Infinite (2)
- The Higher Infinite (3)
- Omega-Sequence Paradoxes (1)
- Omega-Sequence Paradoxes (2)
- Time Travel (1)
- Time Travel (2)
- Newcomb’s Problem (1)
- Newcomb’s Problem (2)
- Probability (1)
- Probability (2)
- Non-Measurable Sets (1)
- Non-Measurable Sets (2)
- The Banach-Tarski Theorem (1)
- The Banach-Tarski Theorem (2)
- Computability (1)
- Computability (2)
- Computability (3)
- Gödel’s Theorem (1)
- Gödel’s Theorem (2)
- Review (1)
- Review (2)
Readings
- There is a required textbook, which you should use to supplement your understanding of the lectures and as an aid to completing problem sets:
- All readings can be found in the following textbook:
- LEC #: 1 · TOPICS: Introduction · READINGS: No assigned reading
- LEC #: 2–4 · TOPICS: Infinite Cardinalities · READINGS: Chapter 1
- LEC #: 5–7 · TOPICS: The Higher Infinite · READINGS: Chapter 2
- LEC #: 8–9 · TOPICS: Omega-Sequence Paradoxes · READINGS: Chapter 3
- LEC #: 10–11 · TOPICS: Time Travel · READINGS: Chapter 4
- LEC #: 12–13 · TOPICS: Newcomb’s Problem · READINGS: Chapter 5
- LEC #: 14–15 · TOPICS: Probability · READINGS: Chapter 6
- LEC #: 16–17 · TOPICS: Non-Measurable Sets · READINGS: Chapter 7
- LEC #: 18–19 · TOPICS: The Banach-Tarski Theorem · READINGS: Chapter 8
- LEC #: 20–22 · TOPICS: Computability · READINGS: Chapter 9
- LEC #: 23–24 · TOPICS: Gödel’s Theorem · READINGS: Chapter 10
- LEC #: 25–26 · TOPICS: Review · READINGS: No assigned reading
Prerequisites & course information
Prereq: None U (Fall) 3-0-9 units. HASS-H
Sources
- Course catalogue ↗2026–2027
- MIT OpenCourseWare ↗Spring 2019
- MIT OCW syllabus ↗
- MIT OCW readings ↗
- MIT OCW calendar ↗
- Historical MIT OpenCourseWare offering. Named reading entries and schedule topics are automatically extracted from the linked source pages.