# What is the legacy of Bourbaki?

As I was preparing a short lecture (for amateurs) on the mathematics of the '900, I realized that this year marks the 70-th anniversary of the founding of the Bourbaki group.

I remember that Bourbaki has been important in my formation (in the years 1970-80), when it was considered as a "school" of math. So I'm interesting to know how much this "school" is influential also today.

I know that we can find the legacy of Bourbaki in many notations (the most important being the symbol $\emptyset$, as far as I know about the use of this symbol), and also in the definition of modern mathematical branches as commutative algebra. But my curiosity is about the influence as a "way of thinking" about mathematics.

To be not too vague I can articulate it in two questions:

• The first (for mathematician): has Bourbaki been important in your formation? And his "style" is it important in your work today?

• The second (for students): do you know Bourbaki? Have you used in someway his books in your learning?

Any other consideration about the legacy of Bourbaki is welcome.

• Bourbaki books are unreadable. I usually get lost after the first page. if u wanna punish someone makin him read any of the bourbaki books – ILoveMath Feb 12 '15 at 10:16
• You can see this post. – Mauro ALLEGRANZA Feb 12 '15 at 10:41
• Maybe that the influence of B. in US was much lesser than in Europe? – Emilio Novati Feb 12 '15 at 21:05
• Lastly, you can see : Maurice Mashaal, Bourbaki : une société secréte de mathématiciens (2006). – Mauro ALLEGRANZA Feb 12 '15 at 21:26
• I'm not sure if it's a direct result of Bourbakists, but you could say that those ideas basically burned the bridge between physicists and mathemathicians which are only recently starting to recover. As a physicist, I think it's a shame. Insistence on rigor and formalism at every step of the way (which, I believe, is at least partially Bourbaki's legacy) unnecessarily stifles understanding and, therefore, progress. Jusy my opinion, make of it what you will. – PhysSE is Cancer Jan 8 at 16:47