One day, we will all have to become mystics

Alexander Grothendieck was a genius who revolutionized mathematics in the 20th century. But even after he is forgotten as a mathematician, he will be forever remembered as a mystic.

His mathematical revolution involved introducing powerful abstract concepts and techniques that unified different areas of mathematics. He said that his approach was to "dissolve" problems by finding the appropriate level of abstraction to frame them. From that vantage point, the problem would open itself to reveal the solution.

After he stopped doing research, his perspectives on the search for truth, the desire to live closer to childlike innocence, and his contempt for the dysfunctions of the dominant North Atlantic culture will likely leave the most durable impact in this new millennium we are entering (although we are not even sure whether our species could survive it).

He was a mutant – a mutation of our species. If we are to survive, we may have to mutate as well, most probably following his example and becoming mystics ourselves.