S’il y a une chose en mathématique qui (depuis toujours sans doute) me fascine plus que toute autre, ce n’est ni “le nombre”, ni “la grandeur”, mais toujours la forme. Et parmi les mille-et-un visages que choisit la forme pour se révéler à nous, celui qui m’a fasciné plus que tout autre et continue à me fasciner, c’est la structure cachée dans les choses mathématiques.
-A. Grothendieck, Récoltes et Semailles
Alexandre Grothendieck (b. 1928) was one of the most influential mathematicians of the 20th century. His contributions to Algebraic Geometry and other areas of Mathematics were revolutionary. Grothendieck’s magnum opus is the truly monumental (yet incomplete) Éléments de Géométrie Algébrique.
In the late 1960s his attention diverted to Environmentalism, Pacifism, and Spiritualism. In 1991 he abandoned society to live as a hermit somewhere in the South of France.
Some biographical articles from the Notices of the AMS:
- The Life of Alexandre Grothendieck – part I (Oct. 2004)
- The Life of Alexandre Grothendieck – part II (Nov. 2004)
- Who is Alexander Grothendieck? (Sept. 2008)
- Memories of Shourik (Sept. 2008)
- Grothendieck at 80, IHES at 50 (Sept. 2008)
More information on Grothendieck’s life and work can be found at the Grothendieck Circle.
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Related:
- Letter from Grothendieck (by John Baez – Aug. 2006)
- A text of Grothendieck (by Alan Rendall)
Tags: Alexander Grothendieck, Alexandre Grothendieck, Algebraic Geometers, Great Thinkers, Mathematicians
May 2, 2009 at 9:04 am |
great article and links