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Mathematician rejected $1 million prize 'because it is unfair'

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Proud Mary

Fri Jul 02 2010, 05:05PM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Mathematician rejected $1 million prize 'because it is unfair'
A Russian mathematician rejected a $1 million prize for solving one of the most challenging problems because he considers it unfair.

The bearded genius is known for his hatred of the limelight Photo: FRANCES ROBERTS

Grigory Perelman told the Clay Mathematics Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he was turning down the prize., according to the Interfax news agency.

Mr Perelman was quoted by Interfax as saying he believes his contribution in proving the Poincare conjecture was no greater than that of US mathematician Richard Hamilton, who first suggested a program for the solution.

The Clay Mathematics Institute confirmed in a statement on its website that Mr Perelman had informed it of his refusal to accept the prize.

The Poincare conjecture, one of seven problems on the institute's Millennium Prize list, deals with shapes that exist in four or more dimensions.

Mr Perelman, 43 did not appear in Paris on Tuesday 22nd June to collect his $1m prize for solving a problem that has puzzled scientists for more than a century.

Mr Perelman, who lives in a small apartment in St Petersburg with his elderly mother, is unemployed and neighbours say he lives in poverty.

He has rejected job offers from several top US universities.

quicksilver

Fri Jul 02 2010, 05:34PM

Registered Member #1408 Joined: Fri Mar 21 2008, 03:49PM
Location: Oracle, AZ
Posts: 679

A childish jack-ass makes millions per year playing with a ball like a child in Primary School & a man whose grasp of mathematics which may or may not have a great impact on mankind refuses a prize of money he believes is unfairly won......???

Here is the quintessential social puzzle that a mathematician may never solve. Why on Earth do we permit those who make little contribution to society earn money so far above those that save human life or improve science beyond it present boundaries???

Are our values SO ruinous & so low that a tight ass is worth more than a mind or hand that creates & empowers? If so; it's no wonder that God plays cruel jokes!

Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Fri Jul 02 2010, 06:47PM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

It's called capatilism and USING people for whatever ends justify the means.

I personally don't watch sports because I don't care, but there are millions upon millions who love sports, and you're probably watching the soccer matches right now, which entertains god knows how many people. Nobody I know of watches Math competitions, so there you have it. People pay to be entertained, that's all it is, and it all costs money. If you don't like how much atheletes get paid, then don't watch the game. I am a bit jealous too of course, but if some fool is going to pay that much money for a guy who puts a ball in a hole, then who am I to argue, its his money.

Back on the subject, he's rejected the money for philosophical reasons, probably because the community has a hirearchy that puts certian members above others and he doesn't want to be a part of that. He probably views himself as a problem solver and doesn't do it for greatness but because the problem has not been solved.

Turn intelligence into a sport that people want to watch and you'll have your millions too.

Mattski

Fri Jul 02 2010, 07:06PM

Registered Member #1792 Joined: Fri Oct 31 2008, 08:12PM
Location: University of California
Posts: 527

He has also already turned down the Fields Medal for the same work:

IntraWinding

Fri Jul 02 2010, 08:09PM

Registered Member #2261 Joined: Mon Aug 03 2009, 01:19AM
Location: London, UK
Posts: 581

Yes, I heard about this chap a while back.

I understand where he's coming from, but I'd have to take the cash. I mean, he could take it and give it to whatever he thinks is a deserving person/cause. He does have some effect on people when they hear what he's done, but I'm not sure he get $1 million worth of value that way. Perhaps he thinks he does.

I wonder if he'll get more awards because they know he won't accept the cash? A nice way for the award committee to bank it for a year...

Pinky's Brain

Fri Jul 02 2010, 09:35PM

Registered Member #2901 Joined: Thu Jun 03 2010, 01:25PM
Location:
Posts: 837

I don't see why people rag on professional sports players as an example of undeserved riches when there are so many more people in say the financial industry making far more money while providing negative value for society. A couple of nights of entertainment might not be much, but they don't destroy economies and subsequently blow through billions of public bail out money while stuffing their pockets.

quicksilver

Fri Jul 02 2010, 09:47PM

Registered Member #1408 Joined: Fri Mar 21 2008, 03:49PM
Location: Oracle, AZ
Posts: 679

It's the "two wrongs" issue. (Obviously I am NOT watching football matches). I agree completely: financial predators don't deserve their money - some CEO of a HUGE corporation certainly doesn't deserve millions.... What could they possibly do to deserve that amount?
What could someone REALLY DO that would be worth that type of money? I can only say thing like saving human lives or making the world a more productive place. Putting more "features" on "Windows" doesn't qualify (IMO).

The issue comes to a head (for both sport figures & corporate pirates) when on top of making that type of money.....they act like spoiled infants!

IamSmooth

Sat Jul 03 2010, 04:10AM

Registered Member #190 Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 12:00AM
Location:
Posts: 1567

He should have taken the money and
1. taken a trip to a place with some sun to get a tan
2. donated the rest of the money to a school for the purpose of teaching mathematics for underprivileged children.

Carbon_Rod

Sat Jul 03 2010, 06:23PM

Registered Member #65 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:43AM
Location:
Posts: 1155

I respect his opinions, as often institutions hand out finances and publications to infer they are somehow related to a person's work.

An institution may even legally own his work if he accepted a University position etc.

Nepotism among technocrats is still popular in modern times... Perhaps this fellow seems to disagree with such things.

Cheers,

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