[Math] categorical proof of Gödel’s incompleteness theorem

categorical-logicct.category-theoryfoundationslo.logictopos-theory

A significant result in set theory was shown by Cohen when he showed that the continuum hypothesis was independent of ZFC using a new technique called forcing. In Topos theory, this result has a new geometric interpretation: the sheaf for the dense topology on the poset of finite approximations on the 'impossible monic' form a new model of sets where this monic is actually there.

Now, presumably Gödel's incompleteness theorem remains valid for typed intuitionistic higher-order logic; such a logic is the internal logic of a topos.

Is there a categorical proof of Gödel's theorem in Topos theory? Does Gödel's theorem say anything geometric or throw new light on the theorem when interpreted in a topos?

Best Answer

This is not exactly what you asked for but I think it's reasonably close to what you want...

The idea of recasting Gödel's results in the context of category theory has led André Joyal to develop arithmetic universes, a minimalistic category tailored for that purpose. Unfortunately, Joyal never published this as explained by Paul Taylor in this recent answer.