Selected Papers (English, French and German Edition)

This selection of works by Hugo Steinhaus contains 84 papers and articles from the total number of his 255 publications covering the years 1908-1980. Items included here, besides the presentation of the most important scientific achievements of the eminent mathematician, were chosen also to represent the possibly complete picture of his work and thoughts. Together with mathematical papers and the papers on application, some of his memoirs, polemics and programmatic talks were selected.

The chronological order of the papers in the main part of the volume will facilitate the Reader in following the development of scientific ideas, as well as exhibiting the variety of interests of the author. Excluded from the chronological order were the miscellaneous articles gathered at the end of the volume.

To preserve the authenticity of thought and style no amendments were introduced with the single exception of clearing obvious misprints. Papers originally published in Polish were translated into English by Marcin Kuczma and Piotr Paszkiewicz.

Selected works are preceded by an article on the life and work of Hugo Steinhaus, originally published in 1971 by Edward Marczewski, and by the bibliography of scientific publications by Hugo Steinhaus.

Hugo Steinhaus (1887-1972) was a Polish mathematician and educator. He helped establish the Lwow School of Mathematics; he is also credited with "discovering" mathematician Stefan Banach, with whom he gave a notable contribution to functional analysis through the Banach-Steinhaus theorem. Author of around 170 scientific articles and books, Steinhaus has left its legacy and contribution on many branches of mathematics, such as geometry, mathematical logic, and trigonometry. Notably he is regarded as one of the early founders of the game theory and the probability theory.