Ramanujan: Did he actually exist?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the existence of the mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan and whether he was a real person or merely an alter-ego of G.H. Hardy. Participants explore various claims and counterclaims regarding the identities and relationships of historical figures in mathematics.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant humorously questions the existence of Ramanujan, suggesting he might be an alter-ego of Hardy.
  • Another participant asserts that Ramanujan did exist, citing the distinctiveness of his work compared to Hardy's as evidence.
  • Claims are made regarding Nicolas Bourbaki's friendship with Ramanujan, with one participant stating that Bourbaki claimed Hardy was an imposter.
  • Multiple participants assert that Nicolas Bourbaki does not exist, challenging the validity of claims made about him.
  • One participant mentions a personal anecdote involving their grandfather and Bourbaki, attempting to provide evidence of Bourbaki's existence.
  • There is confusion expressed by participants about the direction of the discussion, with some feeling it has strayed off-topic.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the existence of Ramanujan or Bourbaki, with multiple competing views and ongoing debate present throughout the discussion.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assertions about the existence of historical figures that are not universally accepted, and it reflects a mix of humor and serious inquiry, with some participants expressing confusion about the topic's focus.

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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o0)
 
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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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