Who is this guy? Why is he important?
Arguably the most important mathematician of the second half of the 20th century
Alexander Grothendieck has died
21–30 of 59 posts
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#22Wow, I swear I was just wondering last night if he was still alive or not, as I was reading about him in Serge Lang's Algebra . Personal coincidence for me. May we never forget the Grothendieck prime, 57.
For those unfamiliar with the reference (from http://www.ams.org/notices/200410/fea-grothendieck-part2.pdf ): One striking characteristic of Grothendieck’s mode of thinking is that it seemed to rely so little on examples. This can be seen in the legend of the so-called “Grothendieck prime”. In a mathematical conversation, someone suggested to Grothendieck that they should consider a particular prime number. “You mean…
I'm not sure I understand what Mumford is alluding to, care to explain?
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#23Earlier quoted context omitted.
For those unfamiliar with the reference (from http://www.ams.org/notices/200410/fea-grothendieck-part2.pdf ): One striking characteristic of Grothendieck’s mode of thinking is that it seemed to rely so little on examples. This can be seen in the legend of the so-called “Grothendieck prime”. In a mathematical conversation, someone suggested to Grothendieck that they should consider a particular prime number. “You mean…
I'm not sure I understand what Mumford is alluding to, care to explain?
[deleted]
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#24Earlier quoted context omitted.
For those unfamiliar with the reference (from http://www.ams.org/notices/200410/fea-grothendieck-part2.pdf ): One striking characteristic of Grothendieck’s mode of thinking is that it seemed to rely so little on examples. This can be seen in the legend of the so-called “Grothendieck prime”. In a mathematical conversation, someone suggested to Grothendieck that they should consider a particular prime number. “You mean…
I'm not sure I understand what Mumford is alluding to, care to explain?
You or I might try to understand some mathematics by mapping it onto some kind of real-world analog, for example a model or graph or specific example case. This guy was a genius who didn't need to do that.
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#25It's difficult to understate Grothendieck's impact on modern mathematics. His work touches everything from stochastic PDE to number theory. In algebraic geometry, where he had the most impact, it is difficult to so much as think about the subject without using his ideas.
His personal story is also interesting and unique.
Pierre Cartier recently published an appreciation of his life and work -- Alexander Grothendieck: A Country Known Only By Name -- which is well worth the read even if you aren't a mathematician. http://inference-review.com/article/a-country-known-only-by-...
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#26Translation here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/math/comments/2m82zw/reports_are_co...
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#27Grothendieck's comments on creativity have been very important in my life, especially the following quote (in translation from the French): "To state it in slightly different terms: in those critical years [roughly from age 17 to 20] I learned how to be alone." "This formulation doesn't really capture my meaning. I didn't, in any literal sense learn to be alone, for the simple reason that this knowledge had never bee…
> Later in life, Grothendieck asked for people to cease re-publishing his work, even brief excerpts. I think Grothendeick used Mathematics as a way to rebel against/escape from the world he grew up in. It was a formal discipline that could provide concrete results, unlike the mundance political arguing and nonsense that he commonly saw elsewhere controlling the world. But, I bet as he grew older he noticed that even…
Yes, he is is in some ways a very tragic figure. As a kid I was always inspired by his absolute dedication to truth, no matter what he saw it as. He really has the most incredible life story, from the child of a one armed Russian-Jewish Anarchist and a German activist, to hiding in France during WWII from the Holocaust, to finding his way after the war in a very odd path to the heights of Mathematics. He really was an exceptional human being.
It's unfortunate his disillusionment led him to leave math completely, and slowly retreat out of society, and probably to develop the mental illness that dominated his later life. A while ago I found some of his writings from the post-math era online, I wonder if they're still around. Strange stuff, all about hermaphroditic angels and his personal beliefs?
We have lost a truly unique and incredible human being, but I'm not sure he would appreciate me saying that "we" lost anything.
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#28I believe that Grothendieck always insisted on spelling his first name "Alexander" rather than the French "Alexandre." If this is true, as I believe it is, let's make an effort to respect his wish.
Ok, we'll take your word for that and change the HN title.
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#29I believe that Grothendieck always insisted on spelling his first name "Alexander" rather than the French "Alexandre." If this is true, as I believe it is, let's make an effort to respect his wish.
Ok, we'll take your word for that and change the HN title.
Thanks, I checked the Wikipedia article at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Grothendieck. It says in the first paragraph: 'He consistently spelt his first name "Alexander" rather than the French "Alexandre"', and they give a reference for that.
Re: Alexander Grothendieck has died
#30Sad news, such an original individual and truly a giant of Mathematics. To imagine he invented Lebesgue measure theory on his own in his late teens. I remember reading that when he was sent to study under Schwartz and Dieudonne in Nancy (if i remember correctly), he solved the equivalent of seven phd thesis problems in nine months. His work with radical ecology is also highlighted in the article.