Reuben Hersh

Reuben Hersh ( born December 9, 1927 in the Bronx ) is an American mathematician.

Hersh studied English literature at Harvard University ( BA 1946). He then worked as a writer for Scientific American (1948-1952) and the rest of the 1950s in the New York area in " Machine Shops " before he received his doctorate in 1962 at the New York University with Peter David Lax in mathematics. 1962 to 1964 he was at Stanford University. Since 1964 he is at the University of New Mexico, where he is Professor Emeritus today. Hersh employed as a mathematician, among others, partial differential equations, linear operators and probability theory. He is best known for his popular science books with mathematical Philip Davis, particularly " The Mathematical Experience" from 1981, which in 1983 won the National Book Award.

For one of his Scientific American article ( on Hilbert 's 10th Problem, 1973) with Martin Davis, he was awarded the 1975 Chauvenet Prize. Another Scientific American article about Paul Cohen on Non Cantorian Set Theory (1967 ) and Martin Davis on Nonstandard Analysis (1972). He also wrote regularly in the Mathematical Intelligencer.

Writings

  • Philip Davis: The mathematical experience. Houghton Mifflin and Birkhäuser 1981, Birkhäuser 1995, Mariner Books 1999 ( introduction of Gian- Carlo Rota ).
  • Philip Davis: Descartes Dream - The World According to Mathematics. Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1986, Houghton Mifflin, 1987, Dover, 2005.
  • What is mathematics really? Oxford University Press, 1997.
  • (Ed. ): 18 unconventional essays on the nature of mathematics. Springer 2006.
  • Vera John -Steiner: Loving and Hating Mathematics. Princeton University Press, 2009.
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