Hermann Weyl

Hermann Weyl (November 9 1885 - December 8 1955) was a German mathematician. Although much of his working life was spent in Zürich and then Princeton, he is closely identified with the University of Göttingen tradition of mathematics, represented by David Hilbert and Hermann Minkowski. His research has had major significance for theoretical physics as well as pure disciplines including number theory. He was one of the most influential mathematicians of the twentieth century, and a key member of the Institute for Advanced Study in its early years, in terms of creating an integrated and international view.

Quotes

:"The question for the ultimate foundations and the ultimate meaning of mathematics remains open; we do not know in which direction it will find its final solution nor even whether a final objective answer can be expected at all. "Mathematizing" may well be a creative activity of man, like language or music, of primary originality, whose historical decisions defy complete objective rationalization." -- Hermann Weyl (Gesammelte Abhandlungen)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:"The problems of mathematics are not problems in a vacuum ... " -- Hermann Weyl

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: " vicious circle, which has crept into analysis through the foggy nature of the usual set and function concepts, is not a minor, easily avoided form of error in analysis". -- Hermann Weyl

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

: "In these days the angel of topology and the devil of abstract algebra fight for the soul of every individual discipline of mathematics."

Related Topics:
Topology - Abstract algebra

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~