The year was 1944, and the first edition of *Theory of Games and Economic Behavior*, written by mathematician John von Neumann and economist Oskar Morgenstern, had just appeared. It was a minor revolution!
John von Neumann (1903–1957).
Every mathematical theory rests on an axiomatic system. These are its foundations, the starting point for everything that follows. At first sight, they seem relatively elementary. They may even appear naive. In fact, they are subtle and formidable. Whether they stand the test of time depends on their generality—how fully they encompass the essence of the subject they are intended to cover—and their uncompromising consistency.
