A One Million US Dollar Prize
The Abel Prize was just awarded to a Belgian mathematician, i.e. Pierre Deligne, working at the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton, NJ (Albert Einstein was there).
The Abel Prize is an international prize presented by the King of Norway to one or more outstanding mathematicians. Named after Norwegian mathematician Niels Henrik Abel (1802–1829), the award was established in 2001 by the Government of Norway. The Abel Prize has often been described as the Nobel prize of mathematics.
About Niels-Henrik Abel
There is little doubt that he was a very gifted and brilliant mathematician who died way too early at age 26 of tuberculosis. He died in poverty. He was unable to secure an appointment as a professor (source).
His work was perhaps so advanced that traditional, academic journals would not publish it. A substantial part of his works were instead published by the then new, rather unconventional journal, i.e. the Crelle’Journal (a.k.a. Journal für die Reine und Angewandte Mathematik or in English Journal for Pure and Applied Mathematics).
“In 1824 he proved the impossibility of solving algebraically the general equation of the fifth degree and published it at his own expense hoping to obtain recognition for his work” (source).
Abel said famously of Carl Friedrich Gauss's writing style, “He is like the fox, who effaces his tracks in the sand with his tail.” C. F. Gauss is said to have received a copy of one of Abel’s critical papers directly from Abel but was not impressed so Abel decided not to visit him in Göttingen.
The Moral Of Abel’s Life
1. Progress of medicine cannot be fast enough!
1.1. If a genius like Abel dies at a young age of a treatable disease, then the loss to humanity is tremendous.
1.2. Therefore, it is an utmost imperative to keep big government out of and prevent the nationalization of health care like it has been happening in the USA and, e.g., in Germany. Big government is literally a killer as it stymies medical progress.
1.3. Therefore, it is an important imperative to subject the medical profession, medical schools and health care providers to more and more intense competition. Today, the medical profession is a government sanctioned monopoly akin to medieval guilds.
2. To nurture and support talent wherever you find it is of paramount importance
2.1. It appears that this unknown genius from a very modest background from Norway was not recognized appropriately
2.2. Some geniuses do not give credit to other geniuses when credit is due
3. Today, the Internet allows anyone to publish anything at little cost
3.1. A genius like Abel would have probably loved this opportunity
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