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Gian-Carlo Rota (1932–1999)

Author of Indiscrete Thoughts

12+ Works 153 Members 2 Reviews

About the Author

Includes the name: G. Carlo Rota

Works by Gian-Carlo Rota

Associated Works

The Mathematical Experience (1981) — Introduction, some editions — 997 copies, 6 reviews
The Philosopher's Handbook: Essential Readings from Plato to Kant (2000) — Introduction — 234 copies, 1 review
Combinatorial Enumeration (1983) — Introduction, some editions — 19 copies

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Common Knowledge

Members

Reviews

2 reviews
Rota was my favorite professor. This is a collection of fairly random writings of his. There are short biographies of mathematicians that Rota knew, some writings on Phenomenology that are well beyond my understanding, and musings on what Mathematics is and how its practitioners actually work.

The biographies seem to be somewhere between gossipy and irreverent and flat-out mean. Rota seems to be trying to show that a great mathematician needn't be a good person. Perhaps unintentionally, he show more seems to be underscoring the point by being unpleasant himself.

The Phenomenology is well outside my ken. I tried to make sense of it, but I'm failing on basic vocabulary. I wish I'd read the afterword first. It warns that almost nobody understands the distinctions Rota is making in these passages.

The musings on Mathematics were very interesting. Rota hits the nail on the head a number of times.
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Statistics

Works
12
Also by
3
Members
153
Popularity
#136,479
Rating
4.1
Reviews
2
ISBNs
18
Languages
2

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