America’s mathematics in 1940s

America’s mathematics in 1940s

1940s was a grand decade for America’s mathematics. In the year of 1948 alone, we find Shannon’s paper on information theory, Wiener’s book on cybernetics, and Feynman’s paper on path integral.

Shannon’s paper established the foundation of information theory. Our age is often called the Age of Information. 

Wiener’s book established control theory. Control theory has vast applications in industrial programs and human societies.

Feynman’s paper provided a new interpretation of quantum mechanics. His paper introduced path integral, a new mathematical method. This method has since been studied extensively by mathematicians. The method has many applications from engineering to finance.

Many other great mathematical works have been accomplished in 1940s. People may offer their own favorite examples.

The standard of America’s official mathematics, and world’s official mathematics, has since plummeted from its lofty heydays in 1940s. Great works continue to appear. But they are usually excluded in the official circle and have little impact. To paraphrase Jamie Galbraith,

The society has thus dredged an unbridgeable division between its leadership and the larger population, to the extent that the latter consists of ordinary thoughtful people with common sense, curiosity and some understanding of basic physics.  As a condition of entry to the elite, one must commit to propositions that no careful person can believe. Leadership must, and does, exclude anyone unwilling to keep quiet on such matters. And it is also, therefore, in elite interest to reduce traits of common sense, curiosity and physical reality in the active population. 

Reference:

Galbraith, James K. 2023, On the consequences of Kennedy coverup, 23/11/2023, 

On the consequences of the Kennedy coverup | By James K. Galbraith | Defend Democracy Press