I mean, one of them’s math built bombs and computers & directly influenced pretty much every part of applied math today, and the other one’s math built math. Not saying he wasn’t smart, but no question are bombs & computers more flashy.
Yes. Grothendieck is undoubtedly less innovative and curious all across the board.
But I should have mentioned they are not of the same generation. vN helps build the atom bomb while G grows up in a concentration camp.
vN went along a scientific golden age. I’d argue it was probably harder to have the same impact on Science in the 1960s.
I also model G as having disdain for applying mathematical ideas to “impure” subjects. Maybe because of the Manhattan project itself as well as the escalation of the Cold War.
This would be consistent with a whole school of french mathematicians deifying pure math, N. Bourbaki in general, and being generally skeptical of the potential of pure math on the improvement of society, Roger Godement being the stereotype.
My point was that Grothendieck’s mind is interesting to dissect for someone interested in a general theory of intelligence and AI alignment (and that the von Neumann metaphor becomes kinda tiring)
I mean, one of them’s math built bombs and computers & directly influenced pretty much every part of applied math today, and the other one’s math built math. Not saying he wasn’t smart, but no question are bombs & computers more flashy.
Yes. Grothendieck is undoubtedly less innovative and curious all across the board.
But I should have mentioned they are not of the same generation. vN helps build the atom bomb while G grows up in a concentration camp.
vN went along a scientific golden age. I’d argue it was probably harder to have the same impact on Science in the 1960s.
I also model G as having disdain for applying mathematical ideas to “impure” subjects. Maybe because of the Manhattan project itself as well as the escalation of the Cold War.
This would be consistent with a whole school of french mathematicians deifying pure math, N. Bourbaki in general, and being generally skeptical of the potential of pure math on the improvement of society, Roger Godement being the stereotype.
My point was that Grothendieck’s mind is interesting to dissect for someone interested in a general theory of intelligence and AI alignment (and that the von Neumann metaphor becomes kinda tiring)