Re: [HM] mathematicians and aging

Reuben Hersh (rhersh@math.unm.edu)
Sun, 25 Jul 1999 09:59:10 -0600 (MDT)

Gordon Fisher asks to what common beliefs I allude. Mainly,
to "mathematics is a young man's game," as Hardy put it.

And then there are various notions of what may become of
a superannuated mathematician, as suggested by Rota.

There is truth in these cliches, but there is also falsehood,
as is usually the way with cliches. I'd like to do a little
empirical investigation to sort out the truth and the falsehood.

Reuben Hersh