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Nwadamor t1_ixl66e6 wrote

Do you think he was smarter than Gauss? Why?

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simplicissimusrex OP t1_ixmrmxm wrote

Gosh. Again I have to say ‘define smart’. But it’s a great comparison. Gauss was a brilliant mathematician who made important fundamental contributions to physics so it’s very apt. I’m biased of course but.., In terms of sheer brain power, von Neumann. In the breadth of his contributions-von Neumann. Von Neumann’s problem was he left so much unfinished-he’d just innovate and move on. So Gauss superior. Not qualified to compare their contributions to pure maths

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Nwadamor t1_ixmuc9d wrote

I heard Gauss could add and multiply 20 digits in his head, could solve equations in his head no different from writing on the board, whereas neumann at best could multiply/add 8 to 10 digits. Although just working memory(can't gauge the rest abilities as they are a bit abstract), that's a pretty huge difference tho?

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simplicissimusrex OP t1_ixn0iv6 wrote

It is. I didn’t know that I must admit. So perhaps Gauss could outdo von Neumann in feats of mental gymnastics… one thing I meant to say, comparing the two -it’s von Neumann’s impact on our modern lives I find so amazing. By formalising utility theory -giving us a way to compare and measure human happiness-that’s shaped the way we think about ourself today for better or worse. Neoliberalism sprung directly from that idea. And I think there’s a tendency to view ourselves as these happiness optimising machines. Or maybe that’s just me…

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simplicissimusrex OP t1_ixn20uc wrote

And of course there’s a lot more to higher maths than doing big sums in your head! But still-impressive.

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