Subject: Re: [HM] Siegel on Hitler and abstract math
From: Abe Shenitzer (shenitze@pascal.math.yorku.ca)
Date: Sun Feb 20 2000 - 13:37:27 EST
Apropos of Colin McLarty's "Siegel postings". Here are the essentials:
1. Siegel is guilty of a "really irresponsible comparison of more
abstract-minded mathematicians to Nazis." (Colin McLarty)
[Relevant Siegel quote: The current threatening situation in mathematics
exactly recalls the National Socialist time under Hitler, when one marched
on until everything fell to pieces.]
2. "Siegel ... went as far as comparing Lang (and his
fellow-travellers) with the Nazis". (Franz Lemmermeyer)
[Relevant Siegel quote: Unfortunately there are many
"fellow-travelers" who have already disgraced a large part of algebra and
function theory; however, until now, number theory had not been
touched. These people remind me of the impudent behaviour of the national
socialists who sang: "Wir werden weiter marschieren, bis alles in Scherben
zerfaellt!"]
I readily grant that Siegel's bringing the Nazis into his remarks directed
against abstract-minded mathematicians was foolish and provocative. But I
think that he was comparing the abstract-minded mathematicians'
"march" that would end (according to Siegel) in the destruction of
mathematics to the march of the Nazis under Hitler, when one marched on
"until everything fell to pieces". And this is not the same as comparing
abstract-minded mathematicians to Nazis.
So far, I may be right or I may be wrong. But I am undoubtedly right when
I say that when Colin titled his second Siegel posting "Siegel on Hitler
and abstract math" he switched from criticism to propaganda.
Abe Shenitzer
P.S. A friend of mine observed: What is being compared [by Siegel] is
(1) the effects and consequences, and (2) the style and propaganda [in the
quote "Wir werden weiter marschieren ... ] of people's actions. It
_cannot_ be a comparison of their motives and doctrines (which are
totally incomparable).
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