Talk:Freeman Dyson
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Problems.
1) "It is not so well known he is among the most renowned Hardy's students." - Who? What?
2) "Dyson was first physicist who realised Q.E.D. theory has 2 different faces." - What does this mean?
3) "His drive with Feynmann and spending a night in a "hotel" is very anecdotal." - Could use details.
4) "Dyson also studied the faith of the Universe, a subject which is very active again today." - What the heck?
5) "His daughter is the well-known Esther Dyson." - Well known for what, if one may be permitted to ask.
An answer:
1) The Hardy referred to was probably G.H. Hardy (author of "A Mathematician's Apology") He preceded Freeman Dyson at Winchester. Both of them disliked the place, but were thankful for the space it gave them to study maths as they wanted (-- the school organised a lecturer from a nearby university to teach the clever pupils weekly). I seem to remember Dyson making reference to Hardy at the beginning of one of his collection of papers -- he had spent his time studying some epic maths foundation work which he liked to believe Hardy had left behind for the next budding mathematician in need of escape from the world of a public school. I don't think Hardy ever taught him. J
Another answer:
4) that's the FATE of the universe, a somewhat different thing. Speculation on the long-term evolution of the universe and how long life can survive within it
I believe (I think Freeman mentions it somewhere in one of his books) that he was the son of a well known musician, George Dyson. I think that would be Sir George Dyson (http://www.impulse-music.co.uk/dyson.htm), who should perhaps get his own entry in the Wikipedia. Malcolm Farmer 18:52, 18 Apr 2005 (UTC)
Emphasis, etc
Dyson was an original thinker, no doubt about that. The problem with the text is that the selection you've chosen makes FD seem like an eccentric. What about mentioning his work for the military? - that would give a boost to his down to earth credentials.
Like many theorists, Dyson had a philosophical turn of mind. He never felt at easy about the existence of dimensionless constants derived from fundamental physical constants. Dyson speculated that <math>alpha <math> (approximately equal to 1/137) was really a variable proportionate to the age of the universe.
There is more that I could mention, and perhaps I will..
--Philopedia 18:05, 20 Jun 2005 (UTC)