Mathematicians Of The Day
23rd September
On this day in 1846, the astronomer Galle followed instructions from Le Verrier and discovered the planet Neptune.
See THIS LINK.
See THIS LINK.
Click on Ⓟ for a poster.
Born:
- 1768: William Wallace Ⓟ
- 1791: Johann Franz Encke Ⓟ
- 1819: Hippolyte Fizeau Ⓟ
- 1851: Ellen Hayes Ⓟ
- 1852: Walter Gröbli Ⓟ
- 1900: David van Dantzig Ⓟ
- 1902: Buqing Su Ⓟ
- 1906: Omar Catunda Ⓟ
- 1910: Lamberto Cesari Ⓟ
- 1968: Wendelin Werner Ⓟ
Died:
- 1657: Joachim Jungius Ⓟ
- 1877: Urbain Le Verrier Ⓟ
- 1919: Heinrich Bruns Ⓟ
- 1938: Maurice d'Ocagne Ⓟ
- 1971: James Alexander Ⓟ
- 1982: Bella Abramovna Subbotovskaya Ⓟ
- 1983: Szolem Mandelbrojt Ⓟ
- 1984: Gheorghe Pic Ⓟ
Quotation of the day
From David van Dantzig
Neither in the subjective nor in the objective world can we find a criterion for the reality of the number concept, because the first contains no such concept, and the second contains nothing that is free from the concept. How then can we arrive at a criterion? Not by evidence, for the dice of evidence are loaded. Not by logic, for logic has no existence independent of mathematics: it is only one phase of this multiplied necessity that we call mathematics.
How then shall mathematical concepts be judged? They shall not be judged. Mathematics is the supreme arbiter. From its decisions there is no appeal.We cannot change the rules of the game, we cannot ascertain whether the game is fair. We can only study the player at his game; not, however, with the detached attitude of a bystander, for we are watching our own minds at play.