内容简介
G.H.Hardywasoneofthiscentury'sfinestmathematicalthinkers,renownedamonghiscontemporariesasa'realmathematician...thepurestofthepure'.Hewasalso,asC.P.SnowrecountsinhisForeword,'unorthodox,eccentric,radical,r
作者简介
AMathematician'sApologyisaprofoundlysadbook,thememoirofamanwhohasreachedtheendofhisambition,whocannolongereffectivelypracticetheartthathasconsumedhimsincehewasaboy.Butatthesametime,itisajoyfulcelebrationofthesubject--andasternlecturetothosewhowouldsullyitbydilettantismorattemptstomakeitmerelyuseful."Themathematician'spatterns,"G.H.Hardydeclares,"likethepainter'sorthepoet's,mustbebeautiful;theideas,likethecoloursorthewords,mustfittogetherinaharmoniousway.Beautyisthefirsttest:thereisnopermanentplaceintheworldforuglymathematics."Hardywas,inhisownwords,"forashorttimethefifthbestpuremathematicianintheworld"andknewfullwellthat"nomathematicianshouldeverallowhimselftoforgetthatmathematics,morethananyotherartorscience,isayoungman'sgame."InalongbiographicalforewordtoApology,C.P.Snow(nowbestknownforTheTwoCultures)offersinvaluablebackgroundandacontextforhisfriend'soccasionallybrusquetone:"Hisliferemainedthelifeofabrilliantyoungmanuntilhewasold;sodidhisspirit:hisgames,hisinterests,keptthelightnessofayoungdon's.And,likemanymenwhokeepayoungman'sinterestsintotheirsixties,hislastyearswerethedarkerforit."ReadingSnow'srecollectionsofHardy'sCambridgeUniversityyearsonlymakesApologymorepoignant.Hardywaspopular,aterrificconversationalist,andanotoriouslygoodcricketplayer.Whensummercame,itwastakenforgrantedthatweshouldmeetatthecricketground....Heusedtowalkroundthecinderpathwithalong,loping,clumping-footedstride(hewasaslightspareman,physicallyactiveeveninhislatefifties,stillplayingrealtennis),headdown,hair,tie,sweaters,papersallflowing,afigurethatcaughteveryone'seyes."TheregoesaGreekpoet,I'llbebound,"oncesaidsomecheerfulfarmerasHardypassedthescore-board.G.H.Hardy'selegant1940memoirhasprovidedgenerationsofmathematicianswithpithyquotesandexamplesfortheirofficewalls,andplentyofinspirationtoeitherbegreatorfindsomethingelsetodo.Heisaworthymentor,amanwhounderstooddeeplyandprofoundlytherewardsandlossesoftruedevotion.--ThereseLittleton
