Related papers: Interview with Hyman Bass
In this note some philosophical thoughts and observations about mathematics are expressed, arranged as challenges to some common claims.
Supersymmetry has been studied for over three decades by physicists, its superset even longer by mathematicians, and superspace has proven to be very useful both conceptually and in facilitating computations. However, the (1) necessary…
This is my contribution to Stephen Hawking's 60th birthday party. Happy Birthday Stephen!
The present paper gives an account for the general mathematical reader of the life and work of Martin Davis. Since two rather comprehensive autobiographical accounts and two long biographical interviews already exist, the present work…
``The purpose of life is to obtain knowledge, use it to live with as much satisfaction as possible, and pass it on with improvements and modifications to the next generation.'' This may sound philosophical, and the interpretation of words…
As David Berlinski writes (1997), the existence and nature of mathematics is a more compelling and far deeper problem than any of the problems raised by mathematics itself. Here we analyze the essence of mathematics making the main emphasis…
The mathematical achievements of Harry Kesten since the mid-1950s have revolutionized probability theory as a subject in its own right and in its associations with aspects of algebra, analysis, geometry, and statistical physics. Through his…
In this paper we describe a model based on persistent homology that describes interactions between mathematicians in terms of collaborations. Some ideas from classical data analysis are used.
We present a list of open questions in mathematical physics. After a historical introduction, a number of problems in a variety of different fields are discussed, with the intention of giving an overall impression of the current status of…
Some reflections on the role in the development of Mathematics of our unconscious perception of the world and just as unconscious organizing pulsions for those perceptions.
This is a former PhD student's take on his teacher's scientific philosophy. I describe a set of 'principles' that I believe are conducive to good applied mathematics, and that I have learnt myself from observing Hans van Duijn in action.
This survey article on Hilbert's first and second problems is adapted from a one-hour colloquium lecture given at the University of Auckland in May, 2000, just three months before the 100th anniversary of Hilbert's lecture. It includes an…
We consider a definition of mathematics as the art of thinking in terms of formalized systems, and the science of relations, structures and algorithms. We also touch upon the relation of mathematics to other sciences, in particular through…
The ability to read, write, and speak mathematics is critical to students becoming comfortable with statistical models and skills. Faster development of those skills may act as encouragement to further engage with the discipline. Vocabulary…
This is a write-up of a lecture at the level of a physics colloquium. There exists an idealized mathematical formulation of strong interactions which has no free parameters but is known to describe the real world quite accurately. Over the…
We discuss several aspects of infinity in the history of mathematics.
One of the variants for systematizing the activities of the historian of mathematics is proposed, as well as a scheme for organizing research and search work in the preparation of scientific articles and reports on the history of science.
Mathematics and its relation to the physical universe have been the topic of speculation since the days of Pythagoras. Several different views of the nature of mathematics have been considered: Realism - mathematics exists and is…
In this article, we are interested in the life and scientific work of the Belgian mathematician Paul Mansion. The year 2019 marks the centenary of his passing. We bring some new insights into Paul Mansion's work thanks to his scientific…
This essay considers the special character of mathematical reasoning, and draws on observations from interactive theorem proving and the history of mathematics to clarify the nature of formal and informal mathematical language. It proposes…