I understand what the halting problem describes, but I do not understand how the proof by contradiction associated with it proves that it is impossible to solve.
The proof by contradiction can be defined as having a function Halt() which could determine whether a program will halt. One could then call this function in a program called Program and halt if the program halts or otherwise loop forever.
Program (String x)
If Halt(x, x) then
Loop Forever
Else Halt.
END
What I don't understand is why if Halt() returns true that it has to Loop forever. Why can't the Program return 0 or 1?
Thanks