Gerolamo cardano biography sample

Without a doubt, he is one of the most colorful characters in the early history of probability. Cardano's early training in mathematics probably came from his father, who was a lawyer by trade, but evidently an accomplished mathematician as well. Later, Cadano was educated at the universities of Pavia and Padua. He received a doctoral degree in medicine in Cardano conducted experimental research and designed various mechanisms, with the most well-known being the Cardan shaft.

Gerolamo cardano biography sample: Girolamo Cardano was born in

He was also an avid gambler, and his love for dice games prompted him to write the book "On Games of Chance" De Ludo Alea,which laid the foundations of probability theory, formulated the law of large numbers, and explored combinatorial questions. His renowned work on mathematics, "The Great Art" Ars Magna,became a cornerstone of modern algebra.

In this work, Cardano attempted to systematize the study of equations, conducted operations with imaginary numbers, and, for the first time, published a method for solving cubic and quartic equations the solution for the quartic equation was discovered by Cardano's student, Luigi Ferrari. The method for solving cubic equations had already been discovered by Scipione del Ferro from Bologna in InTartaglia independently invented his own method and shared it with Cardano, taking an oath from the latter to keep the discovery a secret.

Nevertheless, Cardano published everything he knew about cubic equations in his book, stating that he was aware of Ferro's earlier work, which freed him from any obligations to Tartaglia.

Gerolamo cardano biography sample: Girolamo Cardano was an Italian physician,

However, the di Seronis were only interested in what they could extort from Giambatista and his wealthy father, whilst Brandonia publicly mocked her husband for not being the father of their three children. These taunts drove Giambatista to poison his wife and, following his arrest, he confessed to the crime. Cardan recruited the best lawyers but at the trial the judge decreed that to save his son's life, Cardan must come to terms with the di Seronis.

They demanded a sum which Cardan could never have found. Giambatista was tortured in jail, his left hand was cut off and, on 13 Aprilhe was executed. This was a blow from which Cardan never recovered. He could not forgive himself for failing to avert the disaster and the terrible sufferings of his favourite son haunted him constantly. As the father of a convicted murderer, Cardan became a hated man.

Realising he had to move, Cardan applied for a professorship of medicine at Bologna and was appointed to the post. Cardan's time in Bologna was full of controversy. His reputation, in addition to his arrogant manner, ensured he created many enemies. He humiliated a fellow medical professor in front of his students by pointing out errors in his lectures.

After a few years Cardan's colleagues tried to get the Senate to dismiss him, by spreading rumours that his lectures were practically unattended. Cardan had further problems with his children.

Gerolamo cardano biography sample: Girolamo Cardan or Cardano was an

His remaining son Aldo was a gambler and associated with individuals of dubious character. Cardan writes, in his autobiography, of his four greatest sadnesses in his life [ 4 ]:- The first was my marriage; the second, the bitter death of my son; the third, imprisonment ; the fourth, the base character of my youngest son. In Aldo gambled away all of his own clothes and possessions in addition to a considerable sum of his father's money.

In an attempt to get money Aldo broke into his father's house and stole a large amount of cash and jewellery. Cardan sadly reported Aldo to the authorities, and Aldo was banished from Bologna. In Cardan was put in jail on the charge of heresy. He had cast the horoscope of Jesus Christ and written a book in praise of Nero, tormentor of the martyrs.

These may have been a deliberate attempt on Cardan's part to gain notoriety - he wrote a whole chapter in his autobiography on wishing to "perpetrate his name" - and thus gain a place in history. It is strange for in all other respects Cardan gave the church his full support. However the inquisition was looking to make examples of prominent men whose commitment could be questioned and Cardan fitted the bill nicely.

Cardan was treated leniently, perhaps because public opinion was that he had been treated harshly and so he was only imprisoned for a few months.

Gerolamo cardano biography sample: Gerolamo Cardano was an Italian

On his release, he was forbidden to hold a university post and barred from further publication of his work. On his release Cardan went to Rome, where he received an unexpectedly warm reception. He was granted immediate membership of the College of Physicians and the Pope, who had now apparently forgiven Cardan, granted him a pension. It was in this period that his autobiography [ 4 ] was written, although it was not published.

Cardano was imprisoned for several months and lost his professorship in Bologna. He abjured and was freed, probably with help from powerful churchmen in Rome. He was accepted into the Royal College of Physicians, and as well as practising medicine he continued his philosophical studies until his death in Assuredly this learned man hath taken many things upon trust, and although examined some, hath let slip many others.

He is of singular use unto a prudent Reader; but unto him that only desireth Hoties, [a] or to replenish his head with varieties; like many others before related, either in the Original or confirmation, he may become no small occasion of Error. Significantly, he values him only for his superstitious and astrological writings; his scientific writings are dismissed because they contradict Aristotlebut excused on the ground that the author of the astrological works deserves to be listened to even when he is wrong.

English novelist E.