Life, Death and the Monster (John Conway) - Numberphile

Acclaimed mathematician John H. Conway speaks about the mystery he'd most like to solve. Conway playlist: bit.ly/ConwayNumberphile
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Monster Group video: • Monster Group (John Co...
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[@13Gnimming]

That bit where he said, "oh, it's not arbitrary." It gave me chills. This guy is the distilled essence of the aged mathematician. He's the man that wanders the halls of the math department like a ghost.

[@mf-mi7es]

He does now.

[@oo-wr4pq]

what are you guys smoking?... so much illogical babble packed into so few words...

[@codehorse8843]

Wdym?

[@mtkuroki]

“Like a ghost” You got that right... Too soon?

[@screambmachine]

@@oo-wr4pq there's a new vid by 3blue1brown about the monster as well. i didn't get much past the half of it, but still i can feel, why john is so excited about it, as he understands it much better, yet not completely.

[@pabloagsutinnavavieyra2308]

I came to this video after hearing the news. Such an admirable man. Q.E.D.

[@jordantheoneandonly3880]

Quantum electrodynamics?

[@gustavocruz1761]

It seems he was trying to say "Que En Paz Descanse" (QEPD) the Spanish saying for Rest in Peace. In any case, a great loss indeed.

[@Dummyc0m]

@@jordantheoneandonly3880 quod erat demonstrandum, though i'm not sure if it applies here.

[@DannyInAlian]

The most interesting mathematician of all time, Q.E.D.

[@vinayseth1114]

@@DannyInAlian Really? What about Euler, Ramanujam or even John Nash etc?

[@bullsquid42]

Hearing an elderly man talking calmly about death is really comforting for some reason.

[@fe4000]

Definitely it is...

[@diegomolinaf]

He's depressed. That's not a great way to address it.

[@barendbe]

Life is suffering.

[@fe4000]

It is indeed.

[@diegomolinaf]

Wait? What? Who told you that? "Pain is mandatory but suffering is optional". Life is change. Understand that, learn to let go and stop suffering.

[@KeeganLeahy]

I like this guy. He doesn't bullshit. He says what's on his mind, not what people want to hear. And that's what I like to hear.

[@user-sf7qz5kg3b]

Omg u're so unique and special, u're not like _other_ people.

[@SFKelvin]

He has tenure. He can get away with it.

[@nobody-vm6dw]

@CymroGoch did you really have to be such an asshole? He was a great man and did great things. I would like to see you do what he has done. Hope you are happy for yourself.

[@erickmacias5153]

Well, since that's what you want to hear, and you are one person, he says what at least one person wants to hear...

[@KeeganLeahy]

@@erickmacias5153 7 years younger me might agree

[@BjarturMortensen]

I can't place my finger on what it is about these videos with Mr. Conway, but they are my favorite videos on the internet. The perspective we get from him being known for something he didn't like being known for, his thoughts on death and age, unfinished business, what makes him happy etc. I truly get a lot from these videos; they make me think about things. I'll say it again, these videos are my favorite videos on the internet. A thank you to Brady and a thank you to Mr. Conway for sharing your perspective on the world and mathematics.

[@IKGchiller]

im shocked and offended that this is not first comment, actually

[@euclid1618]

can confirm that he sits in a corridor and think about things

[@mscottveach]

and do the grad students think he's a loon who did something interesting once?

[@Cygnus0lor]

Does it matter?

[@mscottveach]

AmirAli Tn you're asking me? uh, you do know why i asked that, right?

[@belligerenttheo2359]

Maybe he just doesn't care if some grad student think's he's a goon...

[@Ricocossa1]

I hope grad students at Princeton don't think so highly of themselves...

[@SquirrelASMR]

These Numberphile videos are going to be a great historical record of John Conway. I wish humanity could've got more of him, but I'm so grateful we got what we did.

[@ArthurDetaille]

Today, on 12nd april 2020, WE learned his death... I just wanted to Say that this personn really influenced me for his wisdom and his fidelity to himself

[@bertieblackman8791]

12nd

[@qqq1234x]

12nd

[@KerbalHub]

Make sure two people are beside him!

[@Chaosdude341]

It would be great if you could get more videos with Dr. Conway. Truly a great mind. You can tell he exists on an almost entirely separate plane of reality. Brilliant mind.

[@avisian8063]

Chaosdude341 Humility or Dunning Kruger effect? :P

[@royhe3154]

Rest in piece legend. You won the game of life, in way more ways than one.

[@vik24oct1991]

peace you mean

[@shailendrapandit440]

John died of coronavirus, RIP John 💕, take care ppl, stay inside.

[@averagejohnson3985]

It could have been the flu too

[@headless6498]

Average Johnson covid is a flu-

[@anonanon5295]

@@headless6498 It's not though...

[@headless6498]

Anon Anon just because its worser than a cold flu doesnt means its not a flu, It’s proven and known as an influenza

[@marisaliu3236]

Headless Its in the same category of virus as the flu but it’s not the flu

[@herropreasesankyou]

"Oh, no--it's not arbitrary.. ooh, ah-ha! No, it's got to be 196,883, yes! 47x59x71." -favorite quote

[@ToxNano]

That felt almost lovecraftian to me. Like he has glanced some incomprehensible truth and is now failing to make sense of it.

[@sean3533]

Oh my God this guy is so cool. "It seems so arbitrary." "Oh no, its got to be 196 883." Like he is the perfect all-knowing mathematician who would be the beginning to a great spaghetti short story.

[@jgilgorri]

I love listening to Conway speak. He understands everything, it seems, even those thing he doesn't understand, because he understands himself, and his human condition, so very well. He may not know some things, but he understands his relationship with knowledge, with those facts of which he is not aware, and since it's as close as he can expect to get to them, he is comfortable with it. I want to live like he does.

[@cainejdole922]

If you can't do that yourself it's because you're deeply flawed, but it's okay, because so are most people so no one should notice.

[@Bleshin]

RIP John Conway Your Game of Life inspired me ever since I was young

[@noreply7892]

could listen hours to that voice, so nice

[@yongtaufooboy]

Perhaps the worst thing about being a scientist is to understand you can't know more after you die. To have to submit your enthusiasm for knowledge to the limitations of life must be quite difficult.

[@jcb3393]

the worst thing about being an atheist scientist, you mean. a scientist who is also a Christian looks forward to having the answers in Heaven.

[@soupdoyou9111]

jcb3393 Almost all scientists are athiest

[@Drestanto]

Not only "know more" but "share more". And I believe it's not happening to SCIENTIST only. Every person should feel that

[@elijahbachrach6579]

SOUPDOYOU I wonder if most scientists are naturalists because scientific findings lead them to that conclusion or if it’s the case that once a person accepts naturalism, science becomes the only subject they can study. I’m not sure how studying the natural world would ever show whether or not there was anything outside of that world. When you think about it, any scientist who hasn’t studied philosophy should really be an agnostic since questions about things which, by hypothesis, stand outside of the natural order are not his subject.

[@lajosbaranyi7333]

primeribeye . You do nit know even that...😂

[@SadSmash547]

I feel an existential crisis coming on...

[@clockworkking777]

Gone, but not forgotten. And so the project continues.

[@Canonfudder]

RIP, you will be missed.

[@brettt.9464]

This is all the more poignant now that he's passed. So sad to lose a genius like this. RIP.

[@terezip2213]

Rest in peace Conway... such a great man lost to such a bad virus... You and your contributions to mathematics and computer science will be forever remembered. We love you.

[@GRBtutorials]

Claim: John Horton Conway was a great mathematician. Proof: trivial, left to the reader. QED.

[@u.v.s.5583]

Especially in algebra, he is a classic, hence immortal.

[@dewinthemorning]

It's heart-warming to watch interviews with such original, creative scientists and see them also as ordinary human beings, thinking about their death. Last night I watched "A Beautiful Mind", about the mathematician John Nache. It was really an interesting film.

[@markskilbeck]

Nash.

[@LysolPionex]

Oh, that is such a good movie! :)

[@nicovaldes3850]

Really cool film, yeah. For future reference, it's Nash though ;).

[@dewinthemorning]

Nico Valdes Thanks for the correction. :) I will know now that it's really Nash. (I made an incorrect comparison with "niche")

[@rooster1038]

That's actually my favorite movie

[@user-jh3rx3ej7h]

Rest in peace Mr. Conway. You left a legacy that few other humans have ever achieved

[@KarenSDR]

I came back to watch this again after learning about his death yesterday :'-(

[@JosefHabdank]

I like to watch this guy. A little bitter or sad but interesting to see an aged mind of a prominent scientist, and how he thinks...

[@vonkruel]

I think the subject matter was a bit sad (about how we can only see & do so much before certain death). I liked what he said about being free of the need to prove himself or do "important" things, and just enjoying the experience of working on the problems that interest him. I think nobody should have to worry about what they achieve, and just be fully engaged in what interests them. Achievements may come (or not) -- either outcome is OK.

[@cainejdole922]

I was agreeing with you until you said nobody should have to worry about what they achieve- it is contradictory in the sense that being fully engaged in what you're interested in could be considered more of an achievement than the cliched things that I imagine you would consider to be 'achievements', the reason I say that is because you make it clear you believe people may not have any achievements but either outcome is okay. It's true that either is okay in the same sense it's okay if someone dies, but not when we are talking about fulfillment in someones life- but it's the perpetuation that some things constitute achievements and others do not that pressurizes people into living lives they don't want to lead in the first place.

[@Hazzardous13]

I just find Conway has this hypnotic property about him. He's really truly a fascinating mind. Please do more!

[@AlKaBen]

It so sad that so little number of people hear of the loss of a great mathematician. We live strange times. Anyway: Rest in peace John Conway, hope you find your answers .

[@sssdddkkksss]

OMG this is one of the best videos you've done. The way you end it leaves me with so much yearning

[@Michael-Hammerschmidt]

Rest in Peace Dr. Conway, and may this pandemic come to a swift end.

[@davidvegabravo1579]

8:25 - Epic "you are a bacteria to me" look.

[@ratatataraxia]

I love this man, he's like a freaking pirate!

[@DeOxygenation_]

Pirate?

[@Stormgebieder]

John Conway passed away on 11 april 2020... A great mind has left us. :'(

[@driziiD]

we are truly blessed to have this interview

[@oldcowbb]

This is not how I expected him to leave us. Rip

[@morkovija]

Taken from us too soon. Someone has to figure out the monster group as a homage to John

[@DukeP00L]

Hey Brady, what brand of clip microphone do you use?

[@pietrocelano23]

ciao duke?

[@Chaosdude341]

We certainly appreciate the work you did while you were here, John. Best of luck in the next great mystery.

[@subinmdr]

Listening to him talk about life and death after learning about his recent death is giving me chills

[@junyuan399]

After hearing about John Conway, his tragic news and this video, I can't help but feel sad when he talks about his greatest passion and not being able to see some of the current mathematical problems (such as the Monster) to fruition. I only have nothing but the greatest respects to these brilliant minds and how much they dedicate their life on something that brings our world to greater heights. RIP John Conway

[@bytepediaify]

R.I.P "Mathematik ist einfach. Es ist das Zeug, das wir verstehen können. Katzen sind kompliziert." John H. Conway

[@garfieldnate]

Er konnte auch Deutsch?

[@mothaybabonnam5632]

@@garfieldnate er kennt einfach Katzen nix

[@thomasrad5202]

I remember watching this 5 years ago - i'm glad this was documented

[@migram4190]

There's something comforting about how he said that he's not going to worry anymore.. thank you John

[@ivaylo5ev]

I remember watching this episode a long time ago and I was impressed how humble and emotional John Conway is, and especially how he feels about his "unfinished" business with the math problems. I felt he was quite dedicated, but It made me feel sad back then, because he was aware that he may not witness solving those problems, and I think he deserved to. It is sad now to learn he is not among us anymore. May he rest in peace.

[@KipIngram]

I think it's great just to get to bask in the implicit wisdom in all of Dr. Conway's words. He seems truly like a man at peace, and that's the best any of us can hope for.

[@pavan5395]

thank you for everything. rest in peace

[@chunkyq]

My thanks to Professor Conway and Brady. These videos are some of my favourite interviews. As a young mathematician, his insights and reflections mean a great deal to me. I hope there are more videos coming, Brady.

[@blakebullwinkel]

2:25 Ouch...

[@LuisRodriguez-bl7un]

i always get facinated at the feeling his gaze give me, like if his mind had wandered so much afar from this phisical world that he is in someway in a constant state of parcial lostness

[@andrescolon]

Thank you Conway for your amazing genius and your gifts to the world. Thank you Numberphile for these amazing videos.

[@MichaelEhling]

What a wonderful view into a remarkable man. Thank you, Brady.

[@Christophe_L]

Brady, this might be one of the best interviews I've seen you do. And I've seen you do it since the early SixtySymbols videos!

[@niftythelynx]

Does anyone get the feeling that Mister Conway understands so much more about life and existence than the ordinary person?

[@Cannongabang]

NiftyTheLynx got to be old and wise, love those kind of dudes

[@barendbe]

no, I actually think he understands less than the ordinary person about social life to be quite honest. But that's OK because he arranged his life into a completive setting like the monks of before.

[@wierdalien1]

So whats your point? He understands his own existence

[@brokenwave6125]

No, not really.

[@yvesnyfelerph.d.8297]

Why? Bc he keeps brabbling incomprehensible stuff?

[@chakreshsingh]

In my youtube downloaded videos, I only have Conway's talks. During air travels, I just listen to him. A lot of it, I don't understand. But I just love listening to him for some reason unknown to me.

[@greggoadmusicinstruction8708]

I've watched this over and over. It's fascinating to hear him reminisce about his accomplishments in life.

[@Yolwoocle]

The way he looks so passionate about what he does made me smile :) Conway was such a remarkable man, rest in piece.

[@erksp7961]

"I don't like thinking of my impending death" ... Rest in peace

[@peisertdesign]

sadly he had only 6 years left at this point. rest in peace

[@soren81]

I looooooooove the ending! Shows what being a numberphile is all about. Great stuff!

[@sysmatt]

Brady, I love your interviews with Conway. Really great stuff.

[@alexchannel3187]

That guy is very inspiring. I don't know why but feel happy just by listening to him.

[@PEGGLORE]

My dad's best friend at Cambridge and school was the mathematician David Masser who formulated the abc conjecture. That is one of the most important unsolved problems in Mathematics according to Wikipedia.

[@s0c1al1z3dm3d1c1ne]

Thank you Mr. Conway and Mr. Haran, this was absolutely excellent.

[@sloaiza81]

keep these kinds of interviews coming.

[@Stormgebieder]

Very very very nice, thank you Bradyn wonderful interview.

[@MAFiA303]

Thanks for the video and this lasting memory :)

[@thewiseturtle]

I hope that in the last moments before he passed away, he had an epiphany about why the Monster group is the way it is. RIP. You were a great inspiration to me and so many others, even if you didn't love your game of life. :-)

[@stevefung9994]

I’m not a mathematician, but I had the privilege of listening him once give one of the most memorable lectures on the subject of how to tile a plane, >20 years ago when I was an undergraduate student. You knew how great of a teacher he was when he was able to explain very complex subject in very simple terms. Since then, I think about his lecture when I see a repeating mosaic pattern on a wall or painting.

[@domenickriggio684]

i really do love this man. What a blessing he was, is, will be....

[@dark808bb8]

"Too many intriguing properties to be just an accident"

[@lo0ksik]

say that droping a glass cup on the floor

[@makermarx8862]

It was still a cup fashioned out of glass.

[@headlibrarian1996]

I'm not saying it is or isn't an "accident", but that statement is wishful thinking.

[@SneakyLittleHobbit]

"The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you."

[@hybmnzz2658]

Watch out we have got PhD math students in the replies above me

[@MrHeyheyhey27]

RIP John Conway. Apparently he just passed of COVID-19 :(

[@DSCH4]

You teased this one big time, Brady! :D I take it the span of time between the posting of the Game of Life videos and this one was to put together a Monster group video, yes? Anyway, thank you.

[@Grumman_HellCat_F6F]

Rest in peace Professor Conway. Surely one of the greatest minds of our time. And thank you, Brady, for sharing him with us.

[@Simon-ir6mq]

he was such a great guy, I’m really sad to see him go like this. at least it seems like he lived up to his potential and found peace long ago.

[@seafoxen]

This was very well done sir!

[@toddtrimble2555]

RIP, Professor Conway.

[@Morpheus396]

Wow. What a humble, humble man! I am SO inspired.

[@Morpheus396]

+Christopher Hitchens -We might have to disagree on that one. -And yes, great Mathematician no doubt.

[@deidara_8598]

In the end, there is no way to win the Game of Life, Rest in Peace you total legend. You may have left this earth, but you will never leave our hearts.

[@GurleenkaurNanda]

His art remains forever

[@DrogDrummer666]

This is truly beautiful.

[@melchior22222]

Outstanding interview. Thanks to Prof. Conway.

[@Anomander888]

This man is unique in his way of thinking.

[@arandomcube3540]

was, sadly.

[@relike868p]

I can see his smile when watching the final product of the Monster group video.

[@qqwee9014]

I’m here after the recent breakthrough, in mathematics about the Conway Knot problem!

[@MikeBMW]

This ... is ... a ... fantastic ... interview! Thanks, Awesome!

[@subjectt.change6599]

This is a great video! I can sympathize with the attitude of pursuing what makes one happy rather than following what the prevailing fashions dictate you ought to. That is why (as a philosopher) I choose to pursue the pragmatist project as opposed to orthodox analytical or continental philosophy. I may never get an Ivy League professorship, but I'll always be doing the kind of philosophy that I love!

[@shirosurfer8864]

Very very valuable interview wow this is almost like a mentor teaching and talking a pupil

[@bigolboomerbelly4348]

One of the finest minds anyone has ever seen. A true inspiration who set the stage for centuries of discovery and innovation.

[@steeevealbright]

This guy is awesome. More interviews with him, please!

[@buddychumpalfriendhomiebud9242]

Hate to break it to you Stephen

[@steeevealbright]

Kangroo 22 I wrote that comment 6 years ago, he was still alive and healthy.

[@buddychumpalfriendhomiebud9242]

Stephen Albright yes

[@waterlubber]

It took me a moment to realize that this was THE John Conway. It's really awesome to be able to hear something like this directly from him.

[@MichaelGoldenberg]

Lovely interview

[@bigolboomerbelly4348]

John Conway arguably coauthored the most important book in like 200 years at least. Whoever invented the plow is unknown. Whoever discovered metallurgy is also unknown. Sometimes the people with the best and biggest ideas pass by unnoticed and guess what? We are looking at that right now.

[@7orqu3]

I could listenin to him talk about maths all day

[@aries_9130]

Beautiful video, Brady. I could listen to John speaking for hours..

[@vipinsingh691]

Numberfile .... thanks for everything. 👏

[@bokchoiman]

John, you were ahead of your time. This knowledge you've brought us will become extremely useful in the future. No worries.

[@vinechetti]

this is so heartbreaking right now

[@saiphrivas1437]

May the earth above you be light, John Conway. Rest in peace.

[@Pestrutsi]

I loved listening to this guy and also the idea of this video, more vids like this!

[@mahmudshamim1437]

This great man died due to COVID-19 complications in 11.04.2020. My tribute to this great mathematician. RIP.