The Global Initial Value Problem in General Relativity

The lecture, in part, discusses the progress that has so far been accomplished in the investigation of the global initial value problem in general relativity and, in addition, addresses the fundamental open problems that remain to be solved. In particular the development of the theory of gravitational radiation is discussed. Also, the problem of the formation and structure of spacetime singularities is discussed in relation to the fundamental issue of predictability. Here, the lecture touches on what can be learned from the study of analogous problems in fluid mechanics.