4 ms·

Doesn't Goedel's incompleteness theorems imply that it is impossible to define all words using words, unless you have some axiomatic words that are not defined

• ars 8y ago
  I don't think it applies here. With words you just end up with circular definitions. With math a circular definition is unacceptable, and that when the theorem comes into play.
  • lutorm 8y ago
    I would think circular definitions would be just as unacceptable with words.
    • pbhjpbhj 8y ago
      They're not because we don't acquire language by definition of words (alone; sometimes at all; reading dictionaries comes along way down the road of language acquisition).
• recursive 8y ago
  If I understand correctly, axiomatic words are exactly what's being counted here.
  • lutorm 8y ago
    Ah, I misread the question. Thanks.
• eximius 8y ago
  Generally speaking, the number of words is discrete, not infinite, so I don't believe that Godel's theorems would apply here. I'm not saying that new words aren't created, just that in a practical sense, unless you're creating new words to mess with someone trying to do this, it doesn't apply. You have my most enthusiastic contrafribularities.