Math History, Georg Cantor, and the Infinite

This talk stems from a 2016 travel sabbatical in which I was studying the history of mathematics. During this time I traveled in Scotland, England, France, and Germany - my last stop being Halle, Germany, home of mathematician Georg Cantor. This talk intertwines his life and his mathematical work on the infinite. Two things captured my imagination in studying Cantor - one was the power of mathematics to make statements about the infinite (which we as finite beings cannot actually reach) - and the other was the triumph of the human spirit displayed in Cantor's life as he persevered against all odds. (Due to a bit of confusion by the committee about the title, this video starts with a brief math-history overview before getting into the life and work of Georg Cantor.)