Cantor's Infinite Sets: Revolution and Resistance

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• Yoana's book - This book, likely related to math, is mentioned as being amazing and accessible to a general audience, making complex topics engaging with illustrations.

People Mentioned

• Daskalopoulos (Greek poet) - Referenced for his poem about the feeling of panic and insufficient time when contemplating the vastness of stars, relating to the concept of infinity.
• David Hilbert (English mathematician) - Described Cantor's work as "the finest product of mathematical genius and one of the supreme achievements of purely intellectual human activity." He is also known for "Hilbert's infinite hotel."
• Henri Poincaré (Mathematician, theoretical physicist, philosopher of science) - A critic of Cantor's work, calling it a "grave disease." He is considered by some to be the last polymath.
• Kronecker - Cantor's doctoral supervisor and a vehement critic of his work, calling Cantor a "charlatan and a corrupter of youth." He believed only finite values should exist in mathematics and famously stated, "God created the integers, all else is the work of man."
• Wittgenstein (Philosopher) - A critic of Cantor's work, finding it "laughable nonsense." He is known for the quote, "The limits of my language means the limits of my world."
• Richard Dedekind (Mathematician) - Discussed math with Cantor during his honeymoon and collaborated with him on set theory, agreeing that a collection of objects can be finite or infinite.
• Albert Einstein - Mentioned as a scientist who acquired new citizenship and needed a new home country, similar to Cantor's experience.
• Kurt Gödel - Mentioned as a scientist who acquired new citizenship and needed a new home country, similar to Cantor's experience.
• Lewis Carroll (Charles Dodgson) - Referenced in the context of his views on Euclid and the time period, drawing a parallel to the resistance against abstract mathematical concepts.
• Pythagoras - Mentioned for the historical contention and drama surrounding his brotherhood and alleged actions, illustrating that conflict in math is not new.
• Pierre de Fermat - Referenced for his historical contention with Descartes, highlighting the ongoing disagreements and rivalries in mathematical history.
• René Descartes - Referenced in the context of his historical contention with Fermat, highlighting the ongoing disagreements and rivalries in mathematical history.
• Gerolamo Cardano - Mentioned for historical drama and violence, emphasizing the passionate and sometimes combative nature of mathematicians.
• Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz - Referenced in the context of the "calculus wars" for his role in the dispute over the invention of calculus with Newton.
• Isaac Newton - Referenced in the context of the "calculus wars" for his role in the dispute over the invention of calculus with Leibniz.

Websites & Online Resources

• infinitelyirrational.com - The podcast's website, mentioned for finding math and research behind the stories.