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Raoul Bott: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Dror-Bar-Natan-Eric-Weinstein-Raoul-Bott.jpg|thumb|Dror Bar-Natan, Eric Weinstein, and Raoul Bott]] | [[File:Dror-Bar-Natan-Eric-Weinstein-Raoul-Bott.jpg|thumb|Dror Bar-Natan, Eric Weinstein, and Raoul Bott]] | ||
Raoul Bott, the renowned Hungarian-American mathematician, holds a special place in the reflections and tributes of Eric Weinstein, as captured in various podcast appearances and social media posts. Weinstein portrays Bott not only as a towering figure in topology and geometry but also as a personal hero who played a pivotal role in his academic journey. Through these accounts, Bott emerges as a mentor, savior, and intellectual giant whose discoveries and kindness left an indelible mark. | |||
== Bott as a Mathematical Luminary == | |||
Weinstein frequently highlights Bott's groundbreaking work, particularly Bott Periodicity, which he describes as one of the most important mathematical discoveries of the 20th century. In a 2024 appearance on the Modern Wisdom podcast, Weinstein explains it as an "incredible fact" involving four number systems with eightfold symmetry, likening it to "graffiti from a higher mind" that forms the foundation of understanding the world. Earlier tweets from 2009 delve into technical aspects, exploring how Bott Periodicity relates to tensor operations among non-octal division algebras, octonions (referred to as Cayleys), exceptional Lie groups like F4 and E6-8, and elliptic cohomology as a potential k-theoretic refinement requiring extensions via exceptionals. These posts pose questions about large exceptional Lie groups and geometric models of elliptic cohomology theories, underscoring Bott's influence on advanced mathematical concepts. | |||
Bott's colleagues and collaborators also feature prominently. Weinstein notes Bott's close associations with figures like [[Michael Atiyah]] and [[Isadore Singer]], comparing Bott and Atiyah to the "Watson and Crick of mathematics" for their transformative impact. In a 2019 thread mourning Atiyah's death, Weinstein discusses their shared work on vector bundles, quantum field theory, and influences on physicists like [[Ed Witten]] and Graeme Segal. He clarifies that while Bott and Singer worked in similar areas—both claiming the "greatest topological theorem" of the century—they never co-authored papers despite living in adjacent ZIP codes (02138 and 02139). | |||
Weinstein ranks Bott among the most enduring minds, alongside [[Isadore Singer|Is Singer]] and [[Jim Watson|James Watson]], as figures whose contributions will likely be discussed in 1000 years. | |||
== Personal Influence and Gratitude == | |||
Beyond mathematics, Weinstein's accounts reveal a deeply personal connection. In multiple reflections, including a 2020 Lex Fridman Podcast episode, he describes himself as a self-advised PhD student whose thesis required formal approval. Bott, as a Harvard professor, "lent his name" as advisor—acting like a "mensch lends a surname to a bastard"—to help Weinstein navigate institutional barriers. This act, alongside support from Dror Bar-Natan, is credited with "heroically saving" Weinstein's PhD from his own university 20 years prior. Weinstein critiques academic systems, such as the Math Genealogy Project and h-index metrics, for failing to accurately portray outliers like himself. | |||
In a 2016 thread, Weinstein expresses sadness over lacking a traditional mathematical lineage, admitting he delayed thanking Bott and Bar-Natan due to viewing his need for a PhD as a personal weakness. By 2020, he publicly grapples with resentment toward his "rescuers," regretting not inviting Bott to his wedding and wrestling with whether to share his full story. A 2021 thread tributing Singer upon his death intertwines the two mathematicians, portraying them as part of an "underground railroad" that rescued Weinstein when the system failed. Weinstein recounts walking between their offices at MIT and Harvard, and notes a New York Times obituary for Singer that included his quotes. | |||
== Quotes == | |||
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|usernameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein | |usernameurl=https://x.com/EricRWeinstein | ||
|username=EricRWeinstein | |username=EricRWeinstein | ||
|content=They worked down the same street. I was at times a ping pong ball they sent back & forth between Building 2 at MIT & Harvard Science Center rm 508 (I think) along a 45 minute walk. I very much respected that they chose not to air any difficulties. They had respect for each other. | |content=They worked down the same street. I was at times a ping pong ball they sent back & forth between Building 2 at MIT & [[Harvard|Harvard Science Center rm 508]] (I think) along a 45 minute walk. I very much respected that they chose not to air any difficulties. They had respect for each other. | ||
|timestamp=10:11 PM · Feb 19, 2021 | |timestamp=10:11 PM · Feb 19, 2021 | ||
|media1=ERW-X-post-1362887560519819264-EunrcnOUYAU_om1.jpg | |media1=ERW-X-post-1362887560519819264-EunrcnOUYAU_om1.jpg | ||
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Even for a moment… | Even for a moment… | ||
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|content=I'd substitute with [[Raoul Bott|Bott]] and Tu or May | |||
|timestamp=1:12 AM · Dec 29, 2022 | |||
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|timestamp=1:34 AM · Dec 29, 2022 | |timestamp=1:34 AM · Dec 29, 2022 | ||
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== Related Pages == | == Related Pages == | ||
* [[Isadore Singer]] | * [[Isadore Singer]] | ||
* [[Jim Watson]] | |||
* [[Michael Atiyah]] | |||
* [[Harvard]] | |||
[[Category:Mathematics]] | [[Category:Mathematics]] | ||