23 September 2025

Kurt Godel was a brilliant mathematician. In the thirties, he revealed a fundamental truth about mathematics. Any attempt to construct a mathematics using a finite number of axioms will be incomplete. Godel proved that in that system there will be things which can never be proved nor disproved.

Because of the rise in Nazism, he made his escape to the United States of America. He had already done some work at Princeton University and was able to return there. He remained there for the rest of his life famously befriending Albert Einstein.

In her book, ‘A Little History of Mathematics’, Snezana Lawrence, writes about the time when Kurt Godel decided to become an American citizen in 1947. He was sponsored by Albert Einstein who  accompanied his friend to the interview.

‘The judge happened to ask Godel if he thought something like the Nazi dictatorship could ever happen in a place like America.’ writes Lawrence. ‘Godel had already confided to Einstein that – of course! – he had discovered an inconsistency in the US Constitution that he thought could allow this to happen. No system was perfect after all.’

It may have been fortuitous for Godel that his friend persuaded him to stop talking at that stage. His papers were duly signed and he became an American citizen. But the possibility revealed by that brilliant mathematician and logician remains!

Haven’t we begun to see how easily things like this could happen in one of the world’s most celebrated democracies?  We don’t hear much in the news about Congress but we do hear a lot about the President’s executive decisions. They come thick and fast. Will they stop?