Destroying one career is not the same as destroying a field. Mathematicians like to believe the likely apocryphal tale that Nobel didn't endow a prize for math because the likely first winner was sleeping with his wife. Nevertheless, the Fields medal distorts math far less than Nobel prizes distort the sciences.
Mathematicians pursue math in defiance of the far greater rewards of other paths. I know at least nine Fields medalists and many near misses. Unlike the Nobel prize, neither the quest nor the realization of the Fields medal turned anyone into an ashpile.
> Mathematicians like to believe the likely apocryphal tale that Nobel didn't endow a prize for math because the likely first winner was sleeping with his wife
It’s certainly apocryphal. Alfred Nobel never married.
That you know of -- it's possible he was secretly married, and his secret wife was sleeping with the likely first winner of a Nobel prize in mathematics.
Unlikely, yes, but the tale is not certainly apocryphal ;)
Hey Syzygies. Can you please reach out to me at my HN bio? I am conducting an analysis of mathematicians and Fields medalists’ proclivity to remain within pure mathematics terrain vs context switch to some worldly contribution, particularly in light of some of the pressing problems of modernity. You seem to have insight in this subject. If you have the few minutes of time, I would appreciate you reaching out. I can compensate for survey time as well. Thank you in advance!
Mathematicians pursue math in defiance of the far greater rewards of other paths. I know at least nine Fields medalists and many near misses. Unlike the Nobel prize, neither the quest nor the realization of the Fields medal turned anyone into an ashpile.