Peer review or other

[FrankM]

Why did Grigory Perelman post his solution to the Poincaré's conjecture in arVix instead of submitting it to a prestigious mathematics journal?

 

Are there types of fundamental "discoveries" where it would be better to publish them outside of peer reviewed journals or transactions?

[Don Blazys]

To: FrankM,

 

He found that the "mathematical community" is full of

petty, stupid and unscrupulous people...

and decided that he wants absolutely nothing to do with them.

 

At first, many in that "community" scoffed at him, and labelled him an "eccentric".

However, after it became painfully clear that he was indeed correct,

that same exact "community" tried to award him all kinds of medals, honors and money.

 

He turned it all down, essentially telling them to

"stick those medals where the sun don't shine"

and to "take their money and go shopping".

 

Obviously, he felt that publishing outside their journals,

and turning down the accolades would force the "math community" to

take a good hard look at itself, and what it really stands for.

 

(I sure hope that he thanked the good mathematicians

who took the time to read his paper and confirm his result.)

 

Don.

[FrankM]

The First Clay Mathematics Institute Millennium Prize Announced Today Dr. Grigoriy Perelman.

 

The Poincaré Conjecture

 

I noticed the spelling for his given name was different from what I used. I had used the spelling I had seen in some on-line articles. A Wiki article spells it as Grigori. arVix uses "Grisha Perelman"

 

Another mathematician wants an apology, via a law firm (the pdf article).

 

Mathematical politics and the Poincare Conjecture

 

http://www.doctoryau.com/9.18.06.pdf

 

Perelman is a little miffed.

 

World's top maths genius jobless and living with mother - Telegraph

 

I wonder how the Newton vice Leibniz calculus issue would have played out in today's litigious society and instant world wide media distribution?

[Don Blazys]

To: FrankM,

 

Quoting FrankM:

I wonder how the Newton vs. Leibniz calculus issue would have played out

in today's litigious society and instant world wide media distribution?

 

It would have gone on and on, with no end in sight.

Both of their reputations would have been tarnished,

and the only ones benefitting from the entire mess

would have been.... the lawers.

 

(Personally, I would have been rooting for Newton.)

 

Don.