The Mathematician's Brain : A Personal Tour Through the Essentials of Mathematics and Some of the Great Minds Behind Them

The Mathematician's Brain poses a provocative question about the world's most brilliant yet eccentric mathematical minds: were they brilliant because of their eccentricities or in spite of them? In this thought-provoking and entertaining book, David Ruelle, the well-known mathematical physicist who helped create chaos theory, gives us a rare insider's account of the celebrated mathematicians he has known-their quirks, oddities, personal tragedies, bad behavior, descents into madness, tragic ends, and the sublime, inexpressible beauty of their most breathtaking mathematical discoveries. Consider the case of British mathematician Alan Turing. Credited with cracking the German Enigma code during World War II and conceiving of the modern computer, he was convicted of "gross indecency" for a homosexual affair and died in 1954 after eating a cyanide-laced apple--his death was ruled a suicide, though rumors of assassination still linger. Ruelle holds nothing back in his revealing and deeply personal reflections on Turing and other fellow mathematicians, including Alexander Grothendieck, Ren? Thom, Bernhard Riemann, and Felix Klein. But this book is more than a mathematical tell-all. Each chapter examines an important mathematical idea and the visionary minds behind it. Ruelle meaningfully explores the philosophical issues raised by each, offering insights into the truly unique and creative ways mathematicians think and showing how the mathematical setting is most favorable for asking philosophical questions about meaning, beauty, and the nature of reality. The Mathematician's Brain takes you inside the world--and heads--of mathematicians. It's a journey you won't soon forget. The Mathematician's Brain Poses A Provocative Question About The World's Most Brilliant Yet Eccentric Mathematical Minds: Were They Brilliant Because Of Their Eccentricities Or In Spite Of Them? In This Book, David Ruelle, The Mathematical Physicist Who Helped Create Chaos Theory, Gives Us An Insider's Account Of The Celebrated Mathematicians He Has Known-their Quirks, Oddities, Personal Tragedies, Bad Behavior, Descents Into Madness, Tragic Ends, And The Sublime, Inexpressible Beauty Of Their Most Breathtaking Mathematical Discoveries. Ruelle Holds Nothing Back In His Revealing And Deeply Personal Reflections On Mathematicians Such As Alan Turing, Alexander Grothendieck, Rene Thom, Bernhard Riemann, And Felix Klein. Each Chapter Examines An Important Mathematical Idea And The Visionary Minds Behind It. Ruelle Explores The Philosophical Issues Raised By Each, Offering Insights Into The Truly Unique And Creative Ways Mathematicians Think And Showing How The Mathematical Setting Is Most Favorable For Asking Philosophical Questions About Meaning, Beauty, And The Nature Of Reality. Scientific Thinking -- What Is Mathematics? -- The Erlangen Program -- Mathematics And Ideologies -- The Unity Of Mathematics -- A Glimpse Into Algebraic Geometry And Arithmetic -- A Trip To Nancy With Alexander Grothendieck -- Structures -- The Computer And The Brain -- Mathematical Texts -- Honors -- Infinity: The Smoke Screen Of The Gods -- Foundations -- Structures And Concept Creation -- Turing's Apple -- Mathematical Invention: Psychology And Aesthetics -- The Circle Theorem And An Infinite-dimensional Labyrinth -- Mistake! -- The Smile Of Mona Lisa -- Tinkering And The Construction Of Mathematical Theories -- The Strategy Of Mathematical Invention -- Mathematical Physics And Emergent Behavior -- The Beauty Of Mathematics. David Ruelle. A Personal Tour Through The Essentials Of Mathematics And Some Of The Great Minds Behind Them --cover Includes Bibliographical References (p. 131-156) And Index. The Mathematician's Brain poses a provocative question about the world's most brilliant yet eccentric mathematical minds: were they brilliant because of their eccentricities or in spite of them? In this thought-provoking and entertaining book, David Ruelle, the well-known mathematical physicist who helped create chaos theory, gives us a rare insider's account of the celebrated mathematicians he has known-their quirks, oddities, personal tragedies, bad behavior, descents into madness, tragic ends, and the sublime, inexpressible beauty of their most breathtaking mathematical discoveries. Consider the case of British mathematician Alan Turing. Credited with cracking the German Enigma code during World War II and conceiving of the modern computer, he was convicted of "gross indecency" for a homosexual affair and died in 1954 after eating a cyanide-laced apple--his death was ruled a suicide, though rumors of assassination still linger. Ruelle holds nothing back in his revealing and deeply personal reflections on Turing and other fellow mathematicians, including Alexander Grothendieck, René Thom, Bernhard Riemann, and Felix Klein. But this book is more than a mathematical tell-all. Each chapter examines an important mathematical idea and the visionary minds behind it. Ruelle meaningfully explores the philosophical issues raised by each, offering insights into the truly unique and creative ways mathematicians think and showing how the mathematical setting is most favorable for asking philosophical questions about meaning, beauty, and the nature of reality. The Mathematician's Brain takes you inside the world--and heads--of mathematicians. It's a journey you won't soon forget. Examines mathematical ideas and the visionary minds behind them. This book provides an account of celebrated mathematicians and their quirks, oddities, personal tragedies, bad behavior, descents into madness, tragic ends, and the beauty of their mathematical discoveries