Duality and approximation methods in convex control problems served as the title for the 1976 doctoral dissertation written by Claus Peter Ortlieb. This academic foundation supported his subsequent career as a mathematician, during which he maintained a critical perspective on the application of mathematical models in contemporary science, particularly within economics and biological research fields.
Academic Career
Ortlieb completed his university education at the University of Hamburg. In 1976, he earned his doctorate under the supervision of Lothar Collatz. His formal professional tenure at the University of Hamburg spanned from 1985 until 2011, during which time he served as a professor within the faculty of mathematics.
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Beyond his mathematical research, Ortlieb engaged in critical discourse regarding political economy and the perceived limitations of scientific modeling. He contributed to the magazine Krisis, working alongside Robert Kurz, Roswitha Scholz, Ernst Lohoff, and Norbert Trenkle. His editorial work extended to the journal EXIT!. Additionally, he published polemic articles in the newspaper Konkret, focusing on the intersection of mathematics, social structures, and economic systems.
Selected Publications
His written output includes diverse works ranging from textbooks to critical essays. In 2013, he co-authored Mathematische Modellierung: Eine Einführung in zwölf Fallstudien with Caroline v. Dresky, Ingenuin Gasser, and Silke Günzel. His broader intellectual collection appears in Zur Kritik des modernen Fetischismus, published by Schmetterling Verlag in 2019. He also examined historical and philosophical aspects of science, such as his contribution regarding Heinrich Hertz in a 2008 symposium volume, and his 2018 essay on mathematical madness within the Springer Spektrum collection Mathematik und Gesellschaft.
Fast facts
- Born: 1947, Reinbek
- Died: 15 September 2019, Hamburg
- Doctoral supervisor: Lothar Collatz
- Academic home: University of Hamburg
- Language: German
- Notable role: Editor for EXIT! journal
Questions readers ask
What was the focus of Ortlieb's doctoral dissertation?
His 1976 dissertation focused on duality and approximation methods in convex control problems.
In which academic institution did Ortlieb work?
He was employed at the University of Hamburg, where he served as a professor in the faculty of mathematics from 1985 to 2011.
Achievements
- Held posts at University of Hamburg
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