ANANYO BHATTACHARYA
John von Neumann, man from the future
transl.: Stavros Panelis
Editor: Nestoras Hounos
final review: Panagiotis Travlos
ed. Travlos, 2022, p. 544.

How would you describe the person who founded quantum mechanics, invented most of the atomic bomb, built one of the first computers, invented game theory, and invented “living” machines without falling into the trap of idealizing intelligence? From the very first pages of the biography of John von Neumann, the author Ananio Battazaria hastens to characterize the great mathematician as “a man of unimaginable intelligence.” In his very detailed and fascinating book, he substantiates this claim through primary research—and in detail—following the scientific course of a man of extraordinary intellectual ability who indeed seemed to come “from the future,” as noted in the biography. the subtitle of which was recently released also in Greek by Travlos Publications, translated by Stavros Panelis. Along the way, he does not miss the opportunity to highlight the complex personality of the biographer, but is far from moralizing.

With humor and passion

Von Neumann is presented on the first level as one of us, with all his weaknesses, passions and humor. “As a professor at the Princeton Institute for Research, a position he held from 1933 until his death in 1957, von Neumann ‘amused himself’ by annoying his famous neighbors like Albert Einstein and Kurt Gödel by playing German cross-country expeditions. on their office gramophone,” Bhattacharya writes. Gradually, however, the narrative takes the form of an intellectual adventure story more and more. The scale of von Neumann’s thought threatens to overshadow any human dimension. “Einstein revolutionized the way we understood time, space and gravity,” continues the British biographer. “Gödel, although not as famous, had a similar impact in the field of mathematical logic. However, those who knew all three had no doubt that von Neumann was the most brilliant mind among them. In fact, his colleagues joked that von Neumann came from a superior species, but had studied humans so well that he could perfectly imitate them.

His colleagues joked that von Neumann came from a higher species, but he could perfectly imitate people.

Von Neumann, or “Johnny” as he liked to call himself, was born in 1903 in Hungary. He immigrated to America at the age of 27, where he spent the rest of his life with a distinguished academic and professional career and a life of recognition. His scientific contribution was remarkable in many respects, as von Neumann never rested on his laurels. He began with the mathematical foundation of quantum theory, building the “stone of certainty”, as his biographer characteristically writes, “in the midst of a sea of ​​possibilities”, then moved on to research on explosives and ballistics, which played an important role in the creation of the atomic bomb, then explored the creation of the first computers, and also self-replicating machines and finally wrote the founding text of game theory. How much can you expect from one spirit? Bhattacharya rightly includes him in the chorus of the most brilliant minds of the 20th century.

Manhattan Project

Even the most controversial story of von Neumann’s life, his participation in the “Manhattan Project” to create the first atomic bomb, is characterized by an understanding attitude rather than a more critical approach. The biographer is neither a judge nor a professional moralist. However, it is possible that he was fascinated by the production and scope of his subject’s personality. But he is not ashamed of his words. Von Neumann was indeed among the scientists who developed the design of the atomic bomb, and the bomb dropped on Nagasaki also had its own scientific signature.

According to Bhattacharya, the decision to participate in the project was conscious and reasoned. Von Neumann cynically believed in the deterrent power of nuclear weapons. “His personal experience of Béla Kun’s Hungary and what he saw in Nazi Germany filled him with a real horror of totalitarian dictatorships,” writes the British author. In any case, “he himself was fully aware of the various ways in which his work could ultimately contribute to the destruction of mankind.”

“His greatest love was his thought”

As a non-fiction author, Bhattacharya spends a lot of words trying to make von Neumann’s research understandable, so the result will turn off readers who are not interested in a closer acquaintance with the work of the brilliant mathematician. However, the most demanding reader will be satisfied because he will have the opportunity to better know the origin of the ideas that shape the technological universe of our time. The book is clearly dominated by science and the history of ideas.

The biographer interviewed many people who knew the famous scientist, extracting evidence and interesting details from them, which together give us a more complete picture of him. “Although he really adored my mother,” his daughter Marina admits to the biographer, “his greatest love was his very thinking, an occupation to which he devoted most of his time and, like many geniuses, seemed to lose sight of emotional needs. from around.” Despite all this, friends describe von Neumann as always kind, shy and generous. He drove around the Princeton campus and loved the good life and the money.

In concluding the biography, the author does not shy away from a small dose of didactics, but it could be read as timely advice from a person who is most suitable for the scientific and technical problems of the present and future.

“Man from the Future” ends with a nod to von Neumann’s iconic 1955 text “Can We Survive Technology?”. There, the scientist categorically states that it is impossible to stop the evolution of ideas. Of course, there are very positive and useful developments in technology, but they come with huge risks, even existential threats. Safety is relative, and there is no panacea for growing problems, Neumann says. To avoid the most catastrophic scenario, our virtual annihilation by technology, all we can do is define the human qualities that we will absolutely need from now on: “patience, adaptability, intelligence.” I think we all deserve to listen to this carefully.