Ernst Zermelo : An Approach to His Life and Work

This biography examines the life and achievements of Ernst Zermelo (1871-1953), best-known for the statement of the axiom of choice and his axiomatization of set theory. Personal and scientific aspects are, for the most part, kept separate in order to enable the reader to follow the one or the other of these threads. The description of his personality owes much to conversations with his late wife Gertrud. The presentation of his work explores motivations, aims, acceptance, and influence. Selected proofs and information gleaned from unpublished notes and letters add to the analysis. All facts presented are documented by appropriate sources. The biography contains more than 40 photos and facsimiles, most of them provided by Gertrud Zermelo and published here for the first time.