“As a single atom man is an enigma: as a whole he is a mathematical problem. As an individual he is a free agent, as a species the offspring of necessity.” MenWholeProblemIndividualSpeciesAgentsMathematicalAtomsOffspringEnigmaFree AgentsMathematical Problems Book:The Martyrdom of Man Source: The Martyrdom of Man
“The constructs of the mathematical mind are at the same time free and necessary. The individual mathematician feels free to define his notions and set up his axioms as he pleases. But the question is will he get his fellow mathematician interested in the constructs of his imagination. We cannot help the feeling that certain mathematical structures which have evolved through the combined efforts of the mathematical community bear the stamp of a necessity not affected by the accidents of their historical birth.” FeelsMindHelpingFeelingsCertainIndividualCommunityImaginationEffortBearsBirthPleaseMathematicsFellowsStructureHistoricalNotionMathAccidentsMathematicalAffectedMathematicianConstructsStampsAxiomsCombined Effort Book:Gesammelte Abhandlungen Source: Gesammelte Abhandlungen
“The assumption that individuals act objectively in accordance with purely mathematical dictates to maximize their gain or utility cannot be sustained by empirical observation.” IndividualGainsObservationMathematicalAssumptionUtility Author:Richard Arnold Epstein