Ernst Specker
Encyclopedia
Ernst P. Specker is a Swiss mathematician
. Much of his most influential work has been on Quine
’s New Foundations
, a set theory with a universal set
, but he is most famous for the Kochen–Specker theorem in quantum mechanics
, showing that certain types of hidden variable theories are impossible. He also proved the ordinal partition relation ω2→(ω2,3)2, thereby solving a problem of Erdős
.
Specker received his Ph.D. in 1949 from ETH Zurich
, where he has remained throughout his professional career.
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
. Much of his most influential work has been on Quine
Willard Van Orman Quine
Willard Van Orman Quine was an American philosopher and logician in the analytic tradition...
’s New Foundations
New Foundations
In mathematical logic, New Foundations is an axiomatic set theory, conceived by Willard Van Orman Quine as a simplification of the theory of types of Principia Mathematica. Quine first proposed NF in a 1937 article titled "New Foundations for Mathematical Logic"; hence the name...
, a set theory with a universal set
Universal set
In set theory, a universal set is a set which contains all objects, including itself. In set theory as usually formulated, the conception of a set of all sets leads to a paradox...
, but he is most famous for the Kochen–Specker theorem in quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics
Quantum mechanics, also known as quantum physics or quantum theory, is a branch of physics providing a mathematical description of much of the dual particle-like and wave-like behavior and interactions of energy and matter. It departs from classical mechanics primarily at the atomic and subatomic...
, showing that certain types of hidden variable theories are impossible. He also proved the ordinal partition relation ω2→(ω2,3)2, thereby solving a problem of Erdős
Paul Erdos
Paul Erdős was a Hungarian mathematician. Erdős published more papers than any other mathematician in history, working with hundreds of collaborators. He worked on problems in combinatorics, graph theory, number theory, classical analysis, approximation theory, set theory, and probability theory...
.
Specker received his Ph.D. in 1949 from ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich or ETH Zürich is an engineering, science, technology, mathematics and management university in the City of Zurich, Switzerland....
, where he has remained throughout his professional career.