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Integreat said:I'm afraid I have to disagree, there are a handful of elite Mathematicians doesn't have Physics knowledge/background. It is absurd to even say someone doesn't deserve to be a mathematicians, just because their lack of interest in Physics. With all due respect, I believed those who only cares about the applications of Mathematics, doesn't deserve to be a Mathematician-- considering they only viewed math as a mere tool. No offense, here is just my $0.02.
You are very naive. That's ok. Back when I started my undergrad I hated applications of mathematics. I actively avoided them. But boy, I regret that attitude so much now.
Take functional analysis. It's a very cool field of research. But can one really understand it without knowing QM? I don't think so. How is somebody supposed to understand topology or differential geometry without the physical applications of stuff like measuring the Earth or GR. How is somebody supposed to understand even calculus without seeing it in action in physics? Sure, you think you understand it, but do you really know the relevance of Stokes' theorem? I didn't until I studied more physics.
Talk about great mathematicians, you'll find that many great mathematician knew their physics very well. Von Neumann was very aware of QM. Hilbert did research on GR. Euler, Gauss, Laplace all had applications in mind. Do you really think you can be a mathematician without knowing some physics? Perhaps you can, but I guarantee that you will regret this attitude later in your life.