The war of the frogs and the mice, or the crisis of the Mathematische Annalen (Q757330): Difference between revisions

This is a paper that reveals the intricacies of the game Science and Politics to an extent as yet unbelieved by many academicians. In particular, the so-called political neutrality of Mathematics is definitively exposed. As the author says, and this expresses better than anything else, the paper ``tells of the foolishness of great men, of loyalty, and of tragedy.'' The paper deals essentially with L. E. J. Brouwer and his envolvement with German mathematicians in the late twenties. And deals also with an important part in the life of the Mathematische Annalen. The paper discusses the roles of the most prominent German mathematicians of the period. This paper should be read by every young mathematician for whom the political atmosphere and events of the thirties may be as yet unnoticed. And of course, by those who somewhat followed the events of that period and the aftermath. We need more papers like this.