Über Variablen und Entscheidbarkeit

Variables belong to the basic repertoire of the formal and semi-formal languages of logic, mathematics, and computer science. This book presents a comprehensive philosophical reflection on their manifold uses and provides new insights into the nature of mathematical thought and the limits of algorithmic decidability. Beginning with an inquiry into the nature of variables, it argues that one of their core functions is to make logical forms explicit. A closer analysis of this function subsequently reveals a significant connection between the use of variables and (un)decidability. The author's research focuses on the philosophy and history of logic and mathematics.