Set Theory

🇭🇺John von Neumann

Science

1903–1957

"With four parameters I can fit an elephant, and with five I can make him wiggle his trunk."

🇫🇷Alain Badiou

Philosophy

b. 1937

"If the establishment of the thesis 'mathematics is ontology' is the basis of this book, it is in no way its goal."

Georg Cantor

Mathematics

1845–1918

"There is no doubt that we cannot do without variable quantities in the sense of the potential infinite. But from this very fact the necessity of the actual infinite can be demonstrated."

🇭🇺Paul Halmos

Mathematics

1916–2006

"I read once that the true mark of a pro — at anything — is that he understands, loves, and is good at even the drudgery of his profession."

🇺🇸Saul Kripke

Philosophy

1940–2022

"It really is a nice theory. The only defect I think it has is probably common to all philosophical theories. It's wrong."

🇭🇺Paul Erdős

Mathematics

1913–1996

"It is not enough to be in the right place at the right time. You should also have an open mind at the right time."

🇺🇸Edward Nelson

Mathematics

Platonism

1932–2014

"The subject matter of mathematics is the expressions themselves together with the rules for manipulating them—nothing more."

Giuseppe Peano

Literature

1858–1932

"3D Peano Curve at Wolfram Library Archive"