13 votes

The unparalleled genius of John von Neumann

7 comments

  1. [3]
    MonkeyPants
    Link
    Also from here Take a moment to consider if you’re familiar with or have heard of the following terms: In the field of physics and related events — Manhattan Project, Atomic Energy Commission,...

    Also from here

    Take a moment to consider if you’re familiar with or have heard of the following terms:

    • In the field of physics and related events — Manhattan Project, Atomic Energy Commission, mutual assured destruction (MAD), hydrogen bomb, quantum mechanics, fluid dynamics, Dirac-von Neumann axioms, density matrix
    • In the field of computing — Merge sort, Monte Carlo method, pseudorandom numbers, quantum computing, quantum information theory, quantum logic, linear programming, concept of the technological singularity
    • In the field of mathematics — Set theory, ordinal numbers, von Neumann paradox, Ergodic theory, operator theory, measure theory, continuous geometry, lattice theory, game theory, mathematical economics, mathematical statistics
    • In other related fields — Theory of self-replication (DNA), cellular automata, von Neumann universal constructor, von Neumann probe, computed weather forecasting, concept of global warming
    5 votes
    1. [2]
      vektor
      Link Parent
      Also the von neumann architecture, underpinning fundamentally how we build computers. I'm not sure a compiler is a feasible program without a stored program architecture - just to illustrate the...

      Also the von neumann architecture, underpinning fundamentally how we build computers. I'm not sure a compiler is a feasible program without a stored program architecture - just to illustrate the gravity of that one contribution.

      5 votes
      1. MonkeyPants
        Link Parent
        The Von Neumann probe is the inspiration for one of my favorite audio book series: Bobiverse.

        The Von Neumann probe is the inspiration for one of my favorite audio book series: Bobiverse.

        1 vote
  2. [4]
    vaddi
    (edited )
    Link
    I really enjoy reading about von Neumann, even though it makes me feel like an insignificant particle in time and space.

    I really enjoy reading about von Neumann, even though it makes me feel like an insignificant particle in time and space.

    3 votes
    1. [3]
      MonkeyPants
      Link Parent
      Who knew reading about a mathematician could be so funny.... Next up, I am reading a book about Erdos

      Who knew reading about a mathematician could be so funny....

      "it was then I became afraid of Von Neumann"

      Next up, I am reading a book about Erdos

      2 votes
      1. [2]
        Happy_Shredder
        Link Parent
        If you're interested, Stanislaw Ulam (a von Neumann contempory/associate) wrote a very good autobiography back in 1983. There was a recentish biography of John Conway, too, which I really enjoyed .

        If you're interested, Stanislaw Ulam (a von Neumann contempory/associate) wrote a very good autobiography back in 1983. There was a recentish biography of John Conway, too, which I really enjoyed .

        2 votes
        1. MonkeyPants
          Link Parent
          I am now. Thanks.

          If you're interested

          I am now. Thanks.

          2 votes