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What is theoretical computer science?

(cacm.acm.org)
166 points levlaz | 1 comments | 18 Oct 24 06:04 UTC | HN request time: 0.201s | source
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hrkucuk ◴[18 Oct 24 07:40 UTC] No.41877157[source]▶
>“There is a grave danger that the subject will develop along the line of least resistance.”

What does von Neumann mean here? Why is it bad that it will develop along the line of least resistance? Does von Neumann advice that working on "harder" problems is more beneficial for TCS? Could not one argue that we should be solving away low hanging fruits first?

I am not sure if I am understanding von Neumann's quote nor this article properly. I would love to hear some simpler explanation (I am a new BSc. CS graduate).

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1. cubefox ◴[18 Oct 24 11:11 UTC] No.41878284[source]▶
My guess is that von Neumann worried that it develops in directions that people happen to find interesting, instead of in directions that are important by some objective external measure.