Feb 11, 2017 raymond smullyan, whose merry, agile mind led him to be a musician, a magician, a mathematician and, most cunningly, a puzzlecreating logician, died on monday in hudson, n. Raymond smullyan is considered one of americas most inventive creators of logic puzzles. His brother emile ten years his senior came into his bedroom and said. Raymond smullyan may 25, 1919 february 6, 2017 was an american philosopher, mathematician, logician and a magician. The nook book ebook of the the godelian puzzle book. This elegant professor of mathematical logic lehman college, cuny does not overwhelm you at the start, unlike martin gardner in the everchallenging puzzles in scientific american. The first dover book by raymond smullyan was firstorder logic 1995. This book needs no title by raymond smullyan, 9780671628314, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Book needs no title 1980, a sequel to his toa book. He earned a bsc from the university of chicago in 1955 and his ph. The same is true of this book needs no title, for example. According to smullyan s book, some interesting memories. Packed with instructive problems and solutions, the book offers an excellent introduction to the subject and highlights recent research.
I find this statement very characteristic of smullyan, so it would be worth a quote. I recently created an article about smullyan s drinker paradox. Ive been a math content coach for elementary and secondary inservice teachers in detroit, pontiac, warren, ypsilanti, and other highneeds. This page describes raymond smullyan s puzzles one of the 12 best mental exercises. A budget of living paradoxes book description raymond smullyan has contributed to this book needs no title. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the tao is silent. Smullyan invites the reader to explore some beautiful and some horrible ideas related to religious and mystical thought. Smullyan and explore their bibliography from s raymond m. New york raymond smullyan, whose merry, agile mind led him to be a musician, a magician, a mathematician, and, most cunningly, a puzzlecreating logician, died feb. Educational introduction to best mental exercises and logical thinking by using essential, interesting and entertaining information supplemented with free photos and images which are in the public domain or licensed under a creative commons license or gnu free documentation license. Smullyan has written several books about taoist philosophy, which he believes neatly solves most or all traditional philosophical problems as well as integrating mathematics, logic, and philosophy into a cohesive whole.
A paradoxical life, marvin minsky has proclaimed that smullyan has decided to become a child prodigy at age of 35 years when smullyan has published his first mathematical article. Honoring the recent passing of its author, raymond m. Discover book depositorys huge selection of raymond smullyan books online. Smullyan is a tease and a provocateuras readers of what is the name of this book. Professor of mathematics and philosophy at the city university of new york cuny, smullyan, 63, is the author of two highly regarded works on mathematical logic, and published his first popular book just five years ago. He was also an author of a series of popular books on recreational logic, including, what is the name of this book. In the first half of the book, a range of imaginary characters sane and insane. It is extremely entertaining no matter what your age is. In a normal book version, as one dealt with each of the puzzles mentioned above, one could flip to the end of each chapter to check ones solution with that given by smullyan, or, by reading the first part of the answer, get a useful hint to how best to solve the puzzle. The book is mostly a progression of logical conundrums.
Born in far rockaway, new york, his first career was stage magic. Aug 18, 2011 discover book depositorys huge selection of raymond m smullyan books online. That does not mean this book is not suitable for adults. The article has been marked for deletion, because people thought it was just a joke. An unfortunate dualist from this book needs no title by raymond m. This book presents a systematic, unified treatment of fixed points as they occur in godels incompleteness proofs, recursion theory, combinatory logic, semantics, and metamathematics. This book needs no title book by raymond smullyan official. Smullyan is a wellknown logician and inventor of mathematical and logical puzzles. The tao is silent is raymond smullyan s beguiling and whimsical guide to the meaning and value of eastern philosophy to westerners. Indeed, such books are totally antithetic to the true spirit of humor. Publication date 1980 topics paradoxes, philosophical recreations publisher englewood cliffs, n. The puzzles range from the simplest old chestnuts to the most tantalizing complexities.
An unfortunate dualist from this book needs no title by. This week, the mathematical community has lost not one but two of its most beloved. A budget of living paradoxes touchstone books by smullyan, raymond 1986 paperback at. A budget of living paradoxes touchstone books touchstone books paperback reissue by raymond smullyan isbn.
A budget of living paradoxes is a 1980 collection of essays about logic, paradoxes, and philosophy, by raymond smullyan. This earlier work presented a taoist approach to a variety of situations found in life, with a number of short, cogent essays on such topics as work, relaxation, theology and even dogs. Raymond smullyan 1919 2017 mathematician, writer, magician. The puzzling and paradoxical worlds of raymond smullyan.
In 2001, documentary filmmaker tao ruspoli made a film about smullyan called this film needs no title. But a lot of it makes sense if one reads the last essay first. Smullyan, at age 97 if youve never heard of raymond smullyan or encountered any of his books on logic and mathematics or reverse chess problems, religion, and philosophy, you are in the fortunate position of learning about him and encountering his inescapably engaging puzzleposing for the first time. Raymond smullyan was born on may 25, 1919 in far rockaway, queens, new york city, new york, usa as raymond merrill smullyan. A budget of living paradoxes touchstone books touchstone books paperback paperback october 15, 1986 by raymond smullyan author. Hans rosling and raymond smullyan have died the aperiodical. May 25, 1919 february 6, 2017 was an american mathematician, magician, concert pianist, logician, taoist, and philosopher. He believed that mind and matter are separate substances. This book is actually a gentle intro to these topics, and the most amazing part of it is that dr. The merry prankster raymond smullyan 19192017, mathematician, logician, magician, creator of extraordinary puzzles, philosopher, pianist, and man of many parts. Apr 25, 2018 i would have to say that my favorite raymond smullyan books were his puzzle books.
Law language, puzzles blog, language, logic, puzzles, writing 10 comments one day, when a speaker was introducing logician and puzzlist raymond smullyan, he remarked that professor smullyan is unique. In part one, smullyan uses the writings on religion by fellow polymath martin gardner as the starting point for some inspired ideas about religion and belief. Raymond smullyan obituary hudson, ny albany times union. Raymond smullyan was given his first logical conundrum when he was five, on april 1, 1925. A beginners guide to mathematical logic dover books on. In this book he has written a stimulating and challenging exposition of firstorder logic that will be welcomed by logicians, mathematicians, and anyone interested in the field. What are some of the best books by raymond smullyan. The lady or the tiger and other logic puzzles by raymond m.