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A Beautiful Mind Mathematician John F. Nash Jr. Dies
Rick Zeman writes: John F. Nash Jr. revolutionized the mathematical field of game theory and was given a mind that was unique and deeply troubled. He became known to most people by the movie about his life, A Beautiful Mind. Dr. Nash died, along with his wife, May 24 in a two-car accident on the New Jersey Turnpike. The Washington Post reports: "In 1994, when Dr. Nash received the Nobel Prize in economics, the award marked not only an intellectual triumph but also a personal one. More than four decades earlier, as a Princeton University graduate student, he had produced a 27-page thesis on game theory — in essence, the applied mathematical study of decision-making in situations of conflict — that would become one of the most celebrated works in the field. Before the academic world could fully recognize his achievement, Dr. Nash descended into a condition eventually diagnosed as schizophrenia. For the better part of 20 years, his once supremely rational mind was beset by delusions and hallucinations. By the time Dr. Nash emerged from his disturbed state, his ideas had influenced economics, foreign affairs, politics, biology — virtually every sphere of life fueled by competition. But he been absent from professional life for so long that some scholars assumed he was dead."
...wants a Nobel Prize, one's work must be in Economics, or Physics, or otherwise be recognizable in another discipline beyond one's actual field of study.
Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
Truly a tragic loss, not just for science, but for all who were still learning from him. Both math, and that limitations are not what stops you.
By the time Dr. Nash emerged from his disturbed state, his ideas had influenced economics, foreign affairs, politics, biology — virtually every sphere of life
I just like how it sounds... ignore me!
Antisthenes: "Wisdom begins by examining the words/names." - excuse my English, i am (slightly...) better with my Greek!
Historical inaccuracies aside, the movie A Beautiful Mind inspired me to pursue and receive my B.S. in Mathematics which resulted in a very lucrative and satisfactory career. My thanks go out to Dr. Nash and my condolences go out to his family.
'We are trying to prove ourselves wrong as quickly as possible, because only in that way can we find progress.' RPF
I would change that title to "Game Theory mathematician dies..." In honor of his accomplishments. He was not famous because of the movie.
Did the other driver get charged by police...if there is one...
Why don't we wear seatbelts in taxi cabs? Is it even legal to not wear seat belts?
I come here for the love
He and his wife were unfortunately not wearing seat belts. I really don't understand intelligent people not wearing a safety belt. Particularly in a cab.
decision-making in situations of conflict
Sounds like the New Jersey Turnpike alright.
Have gnu, will travel.
My younger brother used to never wear his seatbelt, arguing that he'd rather be thrown clear of an accident than be trapping in a rolling and or crushed vehicle. I had tried to tell him that the odds of that weren't good, even if he ended up out of the vehicle he'd likely get crushed. It all fell on deaf ears.
Then one day a high school buddy of his was in an accident while not wearing his seatbelt. He was thrown halfway out of the pickup truck when the truck rolled over and cut him in half. His friend died almost immediately of course and my brother now religously wears his seatbelt.
Just 5 days ago, John F. Nash and Louis Nirenberg got the Abel price in a ceremony in Oslo:
http://www.abelprize.no/
With a diploma handed over by the Norwegian King Harald and a NOK 6M prize this is the closest thing math has to a Nobel prize.
Unlike the Fields Medal there is no age limit, so just like the Nobel prizes it tends to be given out at a later date, for work that has proven itself to be really outstanding.
Terje
"almost all programming can be viewed as an exercise in caching"
It amazes me how nutty people get over "terrorists" when the roads are like a civilized version of Mad Max. People constantly die every day. Tens of thousands of lives unnecessarily lost every year just to automobile accidents. I feel like I'm the only rational person when I experience a certain apprehension every time I get behind a wheel, knowing that while racing through space in a multi ton coffin, even a small mistake could send me careening to my death.
In a high speed accident anything can happen of course. The real benefit is in lower speed accidents. In the past at speeds under 50mph many people were dying or being crippled for life without the use of seat belts. Properly belted in those are almost entirely walk away accidents. At really high speeds I'm not sure it makes that much difference. I remember back in the early sixties I was 5 years old and my Dad was driving his 59 Ford (on skinny bias-ply tires) with the needle on the speedometer right between the 00 on the 100MPH mark. The car had no belts at all and I was standing on the front seat gleefully yelling "pass another one daddy" as my father sipped on a jug of moonshine he had sitting on the floorboards between his legs. He's 90 now and when I remind him of it (he loves to criticize MY driving) he almost cries. It's amazing any of us survived. But hell it was fun.
I see no evidence to suggest they would have survived had they worn seatbelts. Couch victim blaming aside, the chances of two fragile elderly people surviving getting T-Boned is pretty slim.
while(1) attack(People.Sandy);
...arguing that he'd rather be thrown clear of an accident...
Yeah, thrown clear through a gate of knives. People should really remember that in Hollywood, smashed windows are typically made of sugar.
This and no other is the root from which a tyrant springs; when first he appears as a protector - Plato (423 to 327 BC)
My Mother in Law has commented on breastfeeding an infant, while behind the wheel, driving cross country, without wearing seatbelts. That was back in the late 60's early 70's I guess. I wouldn't even consider removing my child from their safety seat while a vehicle isn't parked these days. Of course some of her children were sent home from the hospital in a cardboard box that she was just supposed to put on the floorboards, different times for sure.
Maybe so, maybe not. I guess once you're over 80 life may seem a little less precious. I'm almost 60 and it hurts every day to get out of bed. I don't know if I want to live to be that old. The real benefit from safety belts is at slower speeds though. Why get concussions and broken bones from 30MPH fender benders? Wear a seat belt and maybe your shoulder is a little sore from where the harness caught it.
Wear seat belts!
A pretty remarkable woman by all accounts. She stood by him (even though they divorced) through the dark decades of his illness and remarried after.
I liked this quote “I decided I was going to think rationally,” Dr. Nash told an interviewer.
So he reasoned himself out of mental illness. That is brilliant.
Basically a guy who thinks for himself, literally.
Don't be apathetic. Procrastinate!
Excellent point. It's just a good idea. Seat belts aren't perfect but they sure improve your chances of avoiding bad things.
He and his wife were unfortunately not wearing seat belts. I really don't understand intelligent people not wearing a safety belt. Particularly in a cab.
But this is John Nash at 86 years old. So you have to ask Is this true or did he fake his death and what would that mean? Agent 86, what does he know that the rest of us do not?
Know your pads. One time pad: good for cryptography. Two timing pad: where to take your mistress.