Petr Vopenka
Encyclopedia
Petr Vopěnka is a Czech
mathematician
. In the early seventies, he established the Alternative Set Theory
(i.e. alternative to the classical Cantor theory), which he subsequently developed in a series of articles and monographs. In the sphere of world mathematics literature, Vopěnka’s name is associated with many first-class mathematical achievements.
Since the mid-eighties he has concerned himself with philosophical questions of mathematics (particularly vis-à-vis Husserl
ian phenomenology).
. After finishing gymnasium
in Ledeč nad Sázavou
in 1953 he went to study mathematics at the Mathematics and Physics Faculty of Charles University in Prague
, graduating in 1958. In 1962 he was made Candidate of Sciences (CSc) and in 1967 Doctor of Science
(DrSc). His advisors were Eduard Čech
and Ladislav Rieger.
Starting in 1958 Vopěnka taught at the Mathematics and Physics Faculty, since 1964 as lecturer, since 1965 as senior lecturer. In 1968 he was made professor
but was prevented to take this title until 1990 due to political reasons. Between 1966 and 69 Vopěnka served as Vice Dean of the faculty.
In 1967 Vopěnka became head of the newly established Department of Mathematical Logic. The department was abolished in 1970 and Vopěnka, though allowed to stay at the university, fell into disfavour with the regime which limited his contacts with foreign mathematicians. During the 1970s and 1980s he concentrated on philosophy and history of mathematics and on phenomenology of infinity.
After the Velvet Revolution
, in January 1990, Vopěnka became Deputy Rector of the Charles University. Between June 1990 - July 1992 he served as Minister of Education of the Czech Republic (then part of Czechoslovakia). In this position he, without much of success and facing protests from the teachers, attempted to institute school reforms.
In 1992 the Department of Mathematical Logic was reopened and Vopěnka became its head. In 2000 he retired from the Charles University and the department was closed. Until 2009 Vopěnka worked as a professor at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem
, in the Department of Mathematics of the Faculty of Science.
Petr Vopěnka also participates in translation and publishing of early mathematical texts (such as works of Euclides and Al-Khwarezmi) into Czech language and nowadays he works at the Department of Interdisciplinary Activities, University of West Bohemia
in Pilsen.
| location = Prague
| isbn = 80-86181-66-9
}}
| publisher = Práh
| location = Prague
| isbn = 80-7252-022-9
}}
| publisher = Alfa
| location = Bratislava
| isbn = 80-05-00438-9
}}
| publisher = Teubner
| location = Leipzig
| id = ASIN B0006E3AXY
}}
| publisher = North-Holland
| location = Amsterdam, Prague
| isbn = 0720422671
}}
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
mathematician
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....
. In the early seventies, he established the Alternative Set Theory
Alternative set theory
Generically, an alternative set theory is an alternative mathematical approach to the concept of set. It is a proposed alternative to the standard set theory.Some of the alternative set theories are:*the theory of semisets...
(i.e. alternative to the classical Cantor theory), which he subsequently developed in a series of articles and monographs. In the sphere of world mathematics literature, Vopěnka’s name is associated with many first-class mathematical achievements.
Since the mid-eighties he has concerned himself with philosophical questions of mathematics (particularly vis-à-vis Husserl
Edmund Husserl
Edmund Gustav Albrecht Husserl was a philosopher and mathematician and the founder of the 20th century philosophical school of phenomenology. He broke with the positivist orientation of the science and philosophy of his day, yet he elaborated critiques of historicism and of psychologism in logic...
ian phenomenology).
Biography
Petr Vopěnka grew up in small town of Dolní KraloviceDolní Kralovice
Dolní Kralovice is a municipality and village in Benešov District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. -References:*This article was initially translated from the Czech Wikipedia....
. After finishing gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in Ledeč nad Sázavou
Ledec nad Sázavou
Ledeč nad Sázavou is a town in the Vysočina Region, Czech Republic. It is located at around . The Sázava River flows through the town.- External links :* *...
in 1953 he went to study mathematics at the Mathematics and Physics Faculty of Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague
Charles University in Prague is the oldest and largest university in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1348, it was the first university in Central Europe and is also considered the earliest German university...
, graduating in 1958. In 1962 he was made Candidate of Sciences (CSc) and in 1967 Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science
Doctor of Science , usually abbreviated Sc.D., D.Sc., S.D. or Dr.Sc., is an academic research degree awarded in a number of countries throughout the world. In some countries Doctor of Science is the name used for the standard doctorate in the sciences, elsewhere the Sc.D...
(DrSc). His advisors were Eduard Čech
Eduard Cech
Eduard Čech was a Czech mathematician born in Stračov, Bohemia . His research interests included projective differential geometry and topology. In 1921–1922 he collaborated with Guido Fubini in Turin...
and Ladislav Rieger.
Starting in 1958 Vopěnka taught at the Mathematics and Physics Faculty, since 1964 as lecturer, since 1965 as senior lecturer. In 1968 he was made professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
but was prevented to take this title until 1990 due to political reasons. Between 1966 and 69 Vopěnka served as Vice Dean of the faculty.
In 1967 Vopěnka became head of the newly established Department of Mathematical Logic. The department was abolished in 1970 and Vopěnka, though allowed to stay at the university, fell into disfavour with the regime which limited his contacts with foreign mathematicians. During the 1970s and 1980s he concentrated on philosophy and history of mathematics and on phenomenology of infinity.
After the Velvet Revolution
Velvet Revolution
The Velvet Revolution or Gentle Revolution was a non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia that took place from November 17 – December 29, 1989...
, in January 1990, Vopěnka became Deputy Rector of the Charles University. Between June 1990 - July 1992 he served as Minister of Education of the Czech Republic (then part of Czechoslovakia). In this position he, without much of success and facing protests from the teachers, attempted to institute school reforms.
In 1992 the Department of Mathematical Logic was reopened and Vopěnka became its head. In 2000 he retired from the Charles University and the department was closed. Until 2009 Vopěnka worked as a professor at the Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem
Jan Evangelista Purkyne University in Ústí nad Labem
Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem is a public university in the Czech Republic. The institution was established on 28 September, 1991. It bears the name of famous Czech scientist Jan Evangelista Purkyně who was born in nearby Libochovice.-History:Originally, in 1954, the...
, in the Department of Mathematics of the Faculty of Science.
Petr Vopěnka also participates in translation and publishing of early mathematical texts (such as works of Euclides and Al-Khwarezmi) into Czech language and nowadays he works at the Department of Interdisciplinary Activities, University of West Bohemia
University of West Bohemia
The University of West Bohemia is a university in Pilsen, Czech Republic. It was founded in 1991 and consists of seven faculties.-Organization:The faculties are the basic units of the university. The units implement their own academic programs...
in Pilsen.
Works by Petr Vopěnka
| publisher = Moraviapress| location = Prague
| isbn = 80-86181-66-9
}}
| publisher = Práh
| location = Prague
| isbn = 80-7252-022-9
}}
| publisher = Alfa
| location = Bratislava
| isbn = 80-05-00438-9
}}
| publisher = Teubner
| location = Leipzig
| id = ASIN B0006E3AXY
}}
| publisher = North-Holland
| location = Amsterdam, Prague
| isbn = 0720422671
}}
External links
- Short biography in English
- Documentary about Vopěnka (in Czech with English subtitles, freely downloadable)