A bronze medal at the 1968 International Mathematical Olympiad in Moscow marked the early academic trajectory of László Mérő. Since then, the Budapest-born mathematician and psychologist has built a career spanning artificial intelligence research, game theory, and cognitive science, bridge-building between formal logic and the often non-rational patterns of human decision-making.
Academic and Scientific Foundation
Educated at the Berzsenyi Dániel Secondary School and later at Eötvös Loránd University, Mérő graduated with a mathematics degree in 1974. His early professional years were spent at the Computer and Automation Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Between 1974 and 1984, he focused on pattern recognition and artificial intelligence. Finding these systems insufficient to model human behavior, he pivoted toward cognitive psychology and psychophysics, eventually joining the Experimental Psychology Department at Eötvös Loránd University.
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Mérő gained prominence for applying game theory to social and moral dilemmas. His books, including Ways of Thinking and Moral Calculations, analyze quasi-rational mechanisms in humans. The latter received the Scientific Book of the Year second prize in Germany in 1999. In addition to technical work, he authored a series of essays in Magyar Narancs titled Are you the dance instructor here?, a collection later published as a book in 2005.
Industry and Institutional Involvement
Beyond academia, Mérő has maintained a career in the software industry, founding and leading a company focused on computer game development. His projects include collaborations with Ernő Rubik and a commitment to the World Puzzle Championship as the leader of the Hungarian team. He serves as professor emeritus and contributes to the curriculum at the Kürt Academy business school, maintaining his influence in both Hungarian research and commercial spheres.
Fast facts
- Born: 1949, Budapest, Hungary
- Education: Eötvös Loránd University
- 1968 International Mathematical Olympiad: Bronze Medal
- Academic Status: Professor emeritus
- Notable Awards: Rényi Kató commemorative prize, Pro Budapest award, Eötvös József Award
- Key Fields: Mathematics, psychology, business psychology
- Languages spoken: English, German, Hungarian
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of his book Moral Calculations?
It explores game theory, logic, and the nature of human frailty to analyze rational and quasi-rational behavior.
Did he work on artificial intelligence?
Yes, he spent a decade at the Computer and Automation Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences developing pattern recognition and artificial intelligence projects before shifting his focus to human cognition.
Achievements
- Educated at Berzsenyi Dániel Secondary School and Eötvös Loránd University
- Fields of research: business psychology, mathematics and psychology