Constantin Piron

Piron is an original thinker on mathematical physics, and is most famous for his proof that, given certain axioms for quantum logic, the lattice of questions is isomorphic to the lattice of subspaces of a Hilbert space (but the field is not determined). See my page of advice to students.

Piron is a bon-viveur, with a developed sense of humour. I visited Geneva in 1964 with my wife and baby son. After a seminar, a group of us, including Guenin, and Piron, went to a restaurent in the Place de l'Opera. Late in the meal, a cheese board was brought, and Piron asked for Camembert, which elicited the response "Le Maitre regret..." What, no Camembert?" shouted Piron, "what a disgrace!" and he left in a huff. Guenin agreed that he would cover Piron's share of the meal, and we had our cheese and coffee. Then Piron reappeared, carrying a whole Camembert cheese, which he had bought in a supermarket. He then called for the Maitre, and presented him with the cheese, with much bowing and politeness. He then asked for the cheese board, and chose Camembert. This he devoured with a great show of enjoyment. Then he asked to see the Maitre again, and proceeded to compliment him on the meal, and especially, the cheese board with its really wonderful Camembert.

After the examination of a student of Flato in Dijon, the jury, including Flato and Piron, were invited to dinner by the candidate, as was the custom in Dijon. We accepted, and took the fast train to Paris. This train was the fore-runner of the TGV, and was, I remember, made of glass. We arrived at an expensive Paris restaurent, and many of us were hesitant about selecting the hors d'oeuvres, which were quite pricey. Piron was the first to be approached by the waiter, and decided to just ask for the main meal, so he said "bifsteak". Next round the table was the candidate himself, and he chose a very expensive starter. The gave us the lead, and we all chose from the list of hors d'oeuvres, with a tolerable concience. The waiter brought us our starters, but nothing for Piron. He remonstrated, where is his bifsteak? "But I thought..." whined the waiter, but Piron said he wanted it NOW. It was one of those restaurents where the veg have to be ordered separately, and Piron had not asked for any; so he got just the steak. For the second course, the waiter was minded to leave Piron out, but Piron pulled him over and said "Bifsteak", so he got a second one, again without any veg. For the dessert, we all chose something, and Piron said again, "Bifsteak", so that was his third course. The candidate made it clear that we should all have a fourth course, when he stopped the waiter especially to ask for coffee. As the external "expert", I had been placed next to the candidate at the dinner, and I asked for tea, "avec lait". This seemed to give a lead, for all the rest of the guests asked for tea, but "avec citron"; by the time the waiter had gone round to Piron, guests were nodding to the waiter, saying just "citron", as did Piron, the last. Of course, the waiter brought Piron tea with lemon. What is this, said he, I asked for lemon, not tea. He was brought a lemon, which he peeled, and watched in amazement by us all, popped it whole into his mouth and ate every bit without blinking. Aware of his audience he said solemnly, "You see, when I eat three bifsteaks without any veg., I always eat a lemon to help with the digestion".