David Hilbert and Hermann Minkowski were towering figures #minecraft
1David Hilbert and Hermann Minkowski were towering figures in the mathematical world at the end of the 19th century, centered around the University of Göttingen. Their friendship dated back to their student days at the University of Königsberg, where they recognized each other’s brilliance early on. Hilbert became known for his work in number theory and formalism, while Minkowski opened new horizons with his geometric approach to number theory, especially through his work on lattice points and convex bodies.
Their relationship was not marked by rivalry, but by mutual intellectual stimulation and deep respect, and together they helped shape the golden age of Göttingen mathematics. Minkowski’s concept of “spacetime geometry” later influenced Einstein’s theory of special relativity, a subject in which Hilbert also took great interest.
When Minkowski passed away suddenly in 1909, Hilbert mourned his loss and praised him in a memorial speech, saying, “His mathematical inspiration was an inexhaustible source for us.” Their friendship, grounded in both intellect and admiration, remains a legacy remembered in the history of mathematics.