Doron Zeilberger: Quotes about mathematics

“Mathematics is so useful because physical scientists and engineers have the good sense to largely ignore the "religious" fanaticism of professional mathematicians, and their insistence on so-called rigor, that in many cases is misplaced and hypocritical, since it is based on "axioms" that are completely fictional, i. e. those that involve the so-called infinity.”

Doron Zeilberger

from "Doron Zeilberger's 126th Opinion", Dr. Z's Homepage http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~zeilberg/Opinion126.html

Mathematics , Sense

“Regardless of whether or not God exists, God has no place in mathematics, at least in my book.”

Doron Zeilberger

An Enquiry Concerning Human (and Computer!) [Mathematical] Understanding C.S. Calude, ed., "Randomness & Complexity, from Leibniz to Chaitin", World Scientific, Singapore, (October 2007)

God , Books , Mathematics

“Let me also remind you that zero, like all of mathematics, is fictional and an idealization. It is impossible to reach absolute zero temperature or to get perfect vacuum. Luckily, mathematics is a fairyland where ideal and fictional objects are possible.”

Doron Zeilberger

" " (nothing) published in the Personal Journal of Shalosh B. Ekhad and Doron Zeilberger

Mathematics , Perfection

“Programming is much much harder than doing mathematics.”

Doron Zeilberger

The Narrow-Minded and Ignorant Referee's Report [and Zeilberger's Response] of Zeilberger's Paper "Automaric CounTilings" that was rejected by Helene Barcelo and the Members of the Advisory Board [that includes(!) Enumeration Expert Mireille Bousquet-Melou] of the Journal of Combinatorial Theory-Series A.

Mathematics

“Mathematics my foot! Algorithms are mathematics too, and often more interesting and definitely more useful.”

Doron Zeilberger

The Narrow-Minded and Ignorant Referee's Report [and Zeilberger's Response] of Zeilberger's Paper "Automaric CounTilings" that was rejected by Helene Barcelo and the Members of the Advisory Board [that includes(!) Enumeration Expert Mireille Bousquet-Melou] of the Journal of Combinatorial Theory-Series A. http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~zeilberg/RefTipesh.html

Mathematics

“Computer Algebra Systems are NOT the Devil but the new MESSIAH that will take us out of the current utterly trivial phase of human-made mathematics into the much deeper semi-trivial computer-generated phase of future mathematics. Even more important, Computer Algebra Systems will turn out to be much more than just a `tool', since the methodology of computer-assisted and computer-generated research will rule in the future, and will make past mathematics seem like alchemy and astrology, or, at best, theology.”

Doron Zeilberger

Mathematics , Past , Future