A Math Lesson From Hitler’s Germany
a day ago
- #mathematics
- #history
- #Nazi-Germany
- David Hilbert's response to Nazi minister Bernhard Rust highlights the destruction of mathematics at Göttingen due to Nazi policies.
- The 1933 law in Germany forced Jewish and Communist mathematicians out of their jobs, leading to a significant loss of talent.
- The U.S. became the new center for mathematical research, benefiting from European mathematicians fleeing Nazi persecution.
- The article draws parallels between the anti-science sentiment in Nazi Germany and current political climates, warning of similar dangers.
- The Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton played a crucial role in providing refuge and opportunities for displaced scholars.
- The fragility of academic institutions is emphasized, with the example of Göttingen's decline under Nazi rule.
- The article concludes with a cautionary note on the potential impact of anti-science policies on American academia.