A Final Word

Abstract

Looking back on Zermelo’s life one gets the impression that its characteristic features condense in a variety of broad scenes partly extending into controversial extremes: His scientific interests range from theoretical physics via applied mathematics to number theory and the foundations of mathematics; among his intellectual interests, engineering practice comes along with music theory, philosophy, and classical poetry. Descriptions of his personality use terms such as “irascible” and “strange,” but also “helpful” and “generous.”