• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.45-64
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• 2004

The lambda calculus is a mathematical formalism in which functions can be formed, combined and used for computation that is defined as rewriting rules. With the development of the computer science, many programming languages have been based on the lambda calculus (LISP, CAML, MIRANDA) which provides simple and clear views of computation. Furthermore, thanks to the "Curry-Howard correspondence", it is possible to establish correspondence between proofs and computer programming. The purpose of this article is to make available, for didactic purposes, a subject matter that is not well-known to the general public. The impact of the lambda calculus in logic and computer science still remains as an area of further investigation.stigation.

• Journal for History of Mathematics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.37-58
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• 2011

The development of recent Mathematical Logic is mostly originated in Hilbert's Proof Theory. The purpose of the plan so called Hilbert's Program lies in the formalization of mathematics by formal axiomatic method, rescuing classical mathematics by means of verifying completeness and consistency of the formal system and solidifying the foundations of mathematics. In 1931, the completeness encounters crisis by the existence of undecidable proposition through the 1st Theorem of G?del, and the establishment of consistency faces a risk of invalidation by the 2nd Theorem. However, relative of partial realization of Hilbert's Program still exists as a fruitful research program. We have tried to bring into relief through Curry-Howard Correspondence the fact that Hilbert's program serves as source of power for the growth of mathematical constructivism today. That proof in natural deduction is in truth equivalent to computer program has allowed the formalization of mathematics to be seen in new light. In other words, Hilbert's program conforms best to the concept of algorithm, the central idea in computer science.