Early 20th Century German Mathematician and Physicist Hermann Weyl's Celebrity Playlist (BH)

When I was researching "Raum, Zeit, Materie" back in '18, it was not just the phenomenological philosophy of Edmund Husserl (specifically his 1913 "Ideen eine reinische Phaenomenologie") that inspired me, it was my precious trove of music too. And just as Einstein himself depended heavily on the physics of Ernst Mach, I depended heavily on the constant flow from my shuffled iTunes library. So when they came to me and asked for my personal fave playlist I was more than happy to oblige.

• "Polly" (Nirvana): "I heard it was recorded in a closet. If not it sounds like it was. Might be a question for Godel, or maybe Riemann with all his talk of abstract surfaces. Nevertheless, the emptiness of the room makes it feel like Kurdt is alive and in my bedroom singing directly to me, sharing himself with me, and with us all."
• "Twisted Logic" (Coldplay): "Reminds me of my own 'Gruppentheorie und Quantenmechanik.' They both make me cry every time."
• "Luckenbach, Texas" (Waylon Jennings): "I've never been, but just hearing about this idyllic land where ain't nobody feelin' no pain makes me want to jump in my Brennabor Juwel 6 and GO! Plus I knew a Gustav Luckenbach at university. I wonder where he is now?"
• "She Blinded Me With Science" (Thomas Dolby): "My 'Elementary Theory of Invariants' allows for at least one gimme."
• "Moonset" (Flying Saucer Attack): "Hearing this for the first time directly influenced my formula for the character of irreducible representations. The bud helped too."
• "Same Old Lang Syne" (Dan Fogelberg): "My work always tried to unite the truth with the beautiful. This one I think nailed them both. When that snow turns into rain, it may be a simple, observable occurance, a merely Kantian perception of the senses, but it'll tear your heart out."
• "Hit 'em Up" (2Pac): "This was playing in my office when me and the Princeton boys (yes, including Albert and J. Robert) decided to raid the girls' dorm. It was mad and foolhardy, but worth it. That's me, second from the left. Man, do I miss those days. Thank God my music's still alive!"

Crafted lovingly by Robert Hornak.

Comments

[Tim]

Me likee lots:

Plus I knew a Gustav Luckenbach at university. I wonder where he is now?

When that snow turns into rain, it may be a simple, observable occurance, a merely Kantian perception of the senses, but it'll tear your heart out.

The bud helped too

My favorite detail:

Kurdt

[Taran]

This has to be the most Woodyesque blog entry I've ever read. You should submit it to the New Yorker, no?

[bobby]

High praise indeed. I'll do it, but only if they explain their cartoons to me.

[Tim]

At least send it to McSweeney's, my good man.

[BMJ]

I love that you referred to Cobain as "Kurdt." Two thumbs up.