Where does progress in mathematics come from? Does somebody sit down at a desk, write down many complicated formulas, have a flash of inspiration, cry out "Eureka – I've found it!", and then what this person has found will remain correct for eternity?
Such a thing does happen. But daily work in mathematical research is much more versatile and interesting! In his lecture, Professor Günter M. Ziegler challenges the much-evoked "absolute certainty" of mathematical arguments. His conviction: Making mistakes forms part of mathematics, and without errors there are no creativity and no ideas. To illustrate this, he will sketch a brief cultural history of mathematical errors, from Euclid to present-day research. And what does any of this have to do with a ham sandwich? Ziegler will explain this, relating how mathematicians struggle for such conclusions which are then really valid for eternity and not only until the next meal.
Organiser: German Research Foundation (DFG)
Date | 27 October 2016, 19:00 | ||
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Venue | Bayerische Staatsbibliothek, Fürstensaal, 1st floor Ludwigstr. 16, 80539 Munich | ||
Public transport | Underground lines 3/ 6, bus line 154, station/ bus stop Universität Bus line 100, bus stop Von-der-Tann-Strasse | ||
Registration | Please register by e-mail to veranstaltungen@bsb-muenchen.de or by calling +49 89 28638-2115 | ||
Admission | Admission is free. |