Sub-computable Boundedness Randomness

This paper defines a new notion of bounded computable randomness for certain classes of sub-computable functions which lack a universal machine. In particular, we define such versions of randomness for primitive recursive functions and for PSPACE functions. These new notions are robust in that there are equivalent formulations in terms of (1) Martin-L\"of tests, (2) Kolmogorov complexity, and (3) martingales. We show these notions can be equivalently defined with prefix-free Kolmogorov complexity. We prove that one direction of van Lambalgen's theorem holds for relative computability, but the other direction fails. We discuss statistical properties of these notions of randomness

Hilbert's Program Then and Now

Hilbert's program was an ambitious and wide-ranging project in the philosophy and foundations of mathematics. In order to "dispose of the foundational questions in mathematics once and for all, "Hilbert proposed a two-pronged approach in 1921: first, classical mathematics should be formalized in axiomatic systems; second, using only restricted, "finitary" means, one should give proofs of the consistency of these axiomatic systems. Although Godel's incompleteness theorems show that the program as originally conceived cannot be carried out, it had many partial successes, and generated important advances in logical theory and meta-theory, both at the time and since. The article discusses the historical background and development of Hilbert's program, its philosophical underpinnings and consequences, and its subsequent development and influences since the 1930s.Comment: 43 page

The cohesive principle and the Bolzano-Weierstra{\ss} principle

The aim of this paper is to determine the logical and computational strength of instances of the Bolzano-Weierstra{\ss} principle (BW) and a weak variant of it. We show that BW is instance-wise equivalent to the weak K\"onig's lemma for $\Sigma^0_1$-trees ($\Sigma^0_1$-WKL). This means that from every bounded sequence of reals one can compute an infinite $\Sigma^0_1$-0/1-tree, such that each infinite branch of it yields an accumulation point and vice versa. Especially, this shows that the degrees d >> 0' are exactly those containing an accumulation point for all bounded computable sequences. Let BW_weak be the principle stating that every bounded sequence of real numbers contains a Cauchy subsequence (a sequence converging but not necessarily fast). We show that BW_weak is instance-wise equivalent to the (strong) cohesive principle (StCOH) and - using this - obtain a classification of the computational and logical strength of BW_weak. Especially we show that BW_weak does not solve the halting problem and does not lead to more than primitive recursive growth. Therefore it is strictly weaker than BW. We also discuss possible uses of BW_weak.Comment: corrected typos, slightly improved presentatio