Professor F. William Lawvere

Living anew as mathematic

We All Can Understand and Use Advancing Science

F. William Lawvere: Seriousness of Purpose

Dear All,

If I may, please allow me to say something romantic about Professor F. William Lawvere (09 February 1937 - 23 January 2023), which may not be visible in the brilliance of his mathematics and science.

That each and everyone of us can develop a proper understanding of advancing mathematics, and, equally importantly, can use the thus acquired general understanding to solve particular problems (e.g., guide the practice of mathematics) is as-is (historical; not an ideology), as is evident in Professor F. William Lawvere's mathematical practices: science-and-teaching.

Questioning 'Why would everyone want to study Conceptual Mathematics?' is, paraphrasing Akeel Bilgrami, ruining the romance (the universality that's the form of love :-)

The Conceptual Mathematics textbook, which Madam Fatima Lawvere imagined: the most scientifically advanced understanding of mathematics made accessible to total beginners: a romantic idea made real by Professors: F. William Lawvere and Stephen H. Schanuel.

That we all can develop a declarative understanding of advancing science and use the thus developed proper understanding is real—resulting from conscious participation in the practice of science—for Professor F. William Lawvere; that reality is palpable to me in studying Professor F. William Lawvere's proper explanations answering my countless questions I had during the past 25 years. (A contrasting situation may clarify: Oftentimes, in answering a question, I tend to give a clear explanation—an explanation that is hopefully clear to the one who had the question, which necessarily involves accessing the "intellect" of the audience and titrating our answers accordingly; in our eagerness to cater to audience subjective experience (satisfaction), we tend to lose sight of the subject matter, with the very thought of proper explanation—an explanation befitting the subject of our study—seemingly incomprehensible, which is to say: not cost-effective ;-)

I am truly grateful to consider myself a student of Professor F. William Lawvere, who in making Madam Fatima Lawvere's vision a reality—Conceptual Mathematics textbook—brought their shared-experience, which (in my understanding) is: we all are scientists and we are all advancing science, into our collective consciousness.

Thanking you,

Yours,

Professor F. William Lawvere's student (posina)

P.S. I'm sorry I couldn't write a proper obituary; Professor Andrée Ehresmann and Professor Robert Rosebrugh have a proper understanding of Professor F. William Lawvere's seminal contributions and the resultant advancement of mathematics, science, and education.

P.P.S. Please forgive me for my mistakes. Also, in India we have a tradition of remembering our ancestors (every so often) but for whom I wouldn't be; it's in this spirit of keeping alive my gratitude towards Professor F. William Lawvere that I am sharing my joy of being his student <3