Any one who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin. For, as has been pointed out several times, t… - John von Neumann

Anyone who considers arithmetical methods of producing random digits is, of course, in a state of sin.

The classical definitions of free competition all involve further postulates besides the greatness of that number. E.g., it is clear that if certain great groups of participants will — for any reason whatsoever — act together, then the great number of participants may not become effective; the decisive exchanges may take place directly between large “coalitions,”1 few in number, and not between individuals, many in number, acting independently. Our subsequent discussion of “games of strategy” will show that the role and size of “coalitions” is decisive throughout the entire subject.

For progress there is no cure. Any attempt to find automatically safe channels for the present explosive variety of progress must lead to frustration. The only safety possible is relative, and it lies in an intelligent exercise of day-to-day judgment.

The human brain is, after all, the best example we have of an intelligent system. If we can learn its methods, we can use these biologically inspired paradigms to build more intelligent machines. This book is the earliest serious examination of the human brain from the perspective of a mathematician and computer pioneer. Prior to von Neumann, the fields of computer science and neuroscience were two islands with no bridge between them.