Ramanujan: Did he actually exist?

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SUMMARY

Ramanujan, the renowned mathematician, undoubtedly existed, as evidenced by the distinct nature of his work compared to that of G.H. Hardy. The discussion highlights the absurdity of questioning Ramanujan's existence while simultaneously dismissing the existence of Nicolas Bourbaki, a fictional collective of mathematicians. Participants emphasize the importance of credible sources and the dangers of misinformation, particularly regarding historical figures in mathematics.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of G.H. Hardy's contributions to mathematics
  • Familiarity with the historical context of early 20th-century mathematics
  • Knowledge of the significance of Ramanujan's work in number theory
  • Awareness of the concept of pseudonyms in academic discourse
NEXT STEPS
  • Research G.H. Hardy's "A Mathematician's Apology" for insights into his views on Ramanujan
  • Explore Ramanujan's contributions to number theory and continued relevance in modern mathematics
  • Investigate the myth of Nicolas Bourbaki and its impact on mathematical literature
  • Examine the role of historical accuracy in the documentation of mathematicians' lives and works
USEFUL FOR

Historians, mathematicians, and students of mathematics interested in the lives and contributions of significant figures like Ramanujan and Hardy, as well as those studying the impact of misinformation in academic contexts.

Steve Zissou
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Just for fun -
Did Ramanujan actually exist, or was he just an alter-ego of Hardy?
What do you think?
 
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Ramanujan existed. His work was so distinctly different to Hardy's, that they could not have both risen from the same educational background. Nicolas Bourbaki once said he was a very good friend of Ramanujan, and that Hardy was an imposter.
 
gleem said:
Nicolas Bourbaki does not exist.
Do not believe everything you read on the internet. I can tell you that my grandfather Arthur Besse, has a photo of him with Bourbaki and M. Lothaire.
 
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gleem said:
Nicolas Bourbaki does not exist.
First, it was suggested that Ramanujan did not exist, and now you are claiming his good friend Bourbaki does not exist either.
And there I was, thinking all the time, that this thread was about the non-existence of Ramanujan. You are clearly off-topic.
 
I'm getting dizzy...
 
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Baluncore said:
You are clearly off-topic.
Does the topic actually exist?
 
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Thread got off to a bad start from the beginning. It is closed now so the world stops spinning... o0)
 
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