A Life of the Genius Ramanujan
by Robert Kanigel
Srinivas Ramanujan (1887-1920)In the past few decades, we have witnessed how Ramanujan's contributions have made such a profound impact on various branches of mathematics. The book, "The man who knew infinity", by Robert Kanigel reached out to the general public the world over by describing the fascinating life story of Ramanujan. And now, in the form of a play, the public is made aware, once again, of this wonderful story. This is a very impressive play and I had the pleasure of seeing it with Prof. George Andrews, the world's greatest authority on Ramanujan's work and on partitions.
I am some what disappointed that Sean Carroll deleted my response to Lawrence Crowell and Rebel dreams.
Lawrence referenced GH Hardy, and I expanded on this in relation to Ramanujan. The point is in regards too pure mathematics. Some might have become offended by my saying "one's God" too imply, that one can idolize and put into stone, graven images of God, yet, this is so far from the truth of my statement that I hope the post I wrote was kept and seen in this light that I am to explain.
Some would never recognize the developmental aspect of a "higher self" and what images that we unconsciously induce to allow this communication within to take place.
It is not the forgetfulness with which one would like to make those graven images and form, "but the realization" that what ever we attach to something being meaningful, becomes meaningful, and pray too, can come through with an extraordinary amount of wisdom.
IN this context I would not judge another human being on the position they hold too in life, as this sets the stage for what is to come. In Ramanujan's case, the information of his mathematics came through in such a form.
My point is that while we build the inductive/deductive application to our "principals of infinite regress" that ultimately such an exercise is reduce too, yes, the mathematical framework that lies very close to that light.
While in relation to creation stories, such responsibility is on the adherence that we adopt to scientific endeavour, with which we place observation and experimentation to understanding what reality is about. I do not advocate irresponsibleness in this regard, but push to rigour that science requires.
The Craftsman
BEHOLDING beauty with the eye of the mind, he will be enabled to bring forth, not images of beauty, but realities, for he has hold not of an image but of a reality, and bringing forth and nourishing true virtue to become the friend of God and be immortal, if mortal man may. Would that be an ignoble life? PLATO
Timaeus:
Genesis Timaeus 27c-34a
First then, in my judgment, we must make a distinction and ask, What is that which always is and has no becoming; and what is that which is always becoming and never is? That which is apprehended by intelligence and reason is always in the same state; but that which is conceived by opinion with the help of sensation and without reason, is always in a process of becoming and perishing and never really is. Now everything that becomes or is created must of necessity be created by some cause, for without a cause nothing can be created.See Timaeus:Laying the Ground rules on Genesis
The Demiurge (Creator)
Literally, “craftsman.” The creator of Plato’s physical world is not a divine intelligence or a personal ruler, but (as it were) a manual laborer. Cf. Vlastos, Plato’s Universe (pp. 26-27):
That the supreme god of Plato’s cosmos should wear the mask of a manual worker is a triumph of the philosophical imagination over ingrained social prejudice. ... But this divine mechanic is not a drudge. He is an artist or, more precisely, what an artist would have to be in Plato’s conception of art: not the inventor of new form, but the imposer of pre-existing form on as yet formless material.
See:
The Man Who Knew Infinity