John Von Neumann 1903-1957

If influence of a scientist is interpreted broadly enough to include impact on fields beyond science proper then John von Neumann was probably the most influential mathematician ever lived: not only did he contribute to almost all branches of modern mathematics and created new fields but he also changed history after the second World War by his work in computer design and by being a sought-after technical advisor to the post-war military-political establishment of the U.S.A. To celebrate John von Neumann’s 100th birthday, the international ‘Von Neumann Centennial Conference” took place in Budapest, Hungary between October 15-20, 2003. Part of this event was the “Linear operators and foundations of quantum mechanics ” conference, where von Neumann’s legacy in operator theory was reviewed and discussed by leading experts in this field. During the conference the American Mathematical Society and the János Bolyai Mathematical Society unveiled a commemorative plaque on the house in Budapest where von Neumann was born and raised. To remember von Neumann the present note sketches von Neumann’s life and career and recalls briefly some of his views on the nature of mathematics