John Von Neumann
John von Neumann (Neumann Jnos) (December 28, 1903 February 8, 1957) was a Hungarian-German mathematician and polymath of Jewish ancestry who made important contributions in quantum physics, functional analysis, set theory, computer science, economics and many other mathematical fields. Most notably, von Neumann was a pioneer of the modern digital computer and the application of operator theory to quantum mechanics (see Von Neumann algebra), member of the Manhattan Project Team, creator of game theory and the concept of cellular automata.
1 Quotes
The sciences do not try to explain, they hardly even try to interpret, they mainly make models. By a model is meant a mathematical construct which, with the addition of certain verbal interpretations describes observed phenomena. The justification of such a mathematical construct is solely and precisely that it is expected to work.
— John Von Neumann