From Combinatorics to Philosophy
From Combinatorics to Philosophy: The Legacy of G. -C. Rota provides an assessment of G. -C. Rota's legacy to current international research issues in mathematics, philosophy and computer science. This volume includes chapters by leading researchers, as w
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Ernesto Damiani · Ottavio D’Antona · Vincenzo Marra · Fabrizio Palombi Editors
From Combinatorics to Philosophy The Legacy of G.-C. Rota
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Editors Ernesto Damiani Universit`a Milano Dipto Tecnologie Informatiche Via Bramante, 65 26013 Crema Italy [email protected]
Ottavio D’Antona Universit`a Milano Dipto. Informatica e Comunicazione Via Comelico, 39 20135 Milano Italy [email protected]
Vincenzo Marra Universit`a Milano Dipto. Informatica e Comunicazione Via Comelico, 39 20135 Milano Italy [email protected]
Fabrizio Palombi Universit`a della Calabria Dipto. Filosofia Ponte Bucci Cubo 18/c 87036 Arcavacata di Rende (Cs) Italy [email protected]
ISBN 978-0-387-88752-4 e-ISBN 978-0-387-88753-1 DOI 10.1007/978-0-387-88753-1 Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York Library of Congress Control Number: 2009931198 c Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009 All rights reserved. This work may not be translated or copied in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher (Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA), except for brief excerpts in connection with reviews or scholarly analysis. Use in connection with any form of information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed is forbidden. The use in this publication of trade names, trademarks, service marks, and similar terms, even if they are not identified as such, is not to be taken as an expression of opinion as to whether or not they are subject to proprietary rights. Printed on acid-free paper Springer is part of Springer Science+Business Media (www.springer.com)
Foreword
Even those who were fortunate enough to know Gian-Carlo Rota, or perhaps to match wits with him, would be hard put to answer the question: “Are you sure you know who Gian-Carlo Rota was?” The point underlying this question is well illustrated by the Latin saying, Si duo dicunt aliud, non est idem. In other words, although each of them may bear within their memory the image and the feeling of Gian-Carlo, it is also true that none of them knows Gian-Carlo Rota the figure. Like it or not, every such fortunate contemporary has built his/her own personal Mr. Rota. Indeed each has painted a portrait using her/his own canvas and own palette. To display it, each has then chosen the frame deemed more appropriate. This portrait has been painted in dozens of faithful copies – each different from one another. This book does not attempt to answer the question that opens these introductory remarks. Rather, it provides a number of selected contributions by authors who have interacted either with Rota himself or with his work. We trust that Rota’s intellectual footprint will thereby emerge more vividly than through an attempt at yet another portrait.
Rota, the man. The book begins with two authoritative, first-hand accounts. Ester Gasperoni Rota brings to bear the special intimacy of her and his brother’s childhood. The fascinating
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