EDIT: That behaviour show what having a conscience means when you take it to the limit, which -to me- is really inspiring...
It is not only that. He left the IHES as a protest because it was partially founded by the NATO.
For non-specialists, the IHES is equivalent in 'scientific value' to any Insitute of your choice: Princeton, the Newton Institute, Max Planck, CERN... whatever. It is one of the few 'best of the best'.
He just left.
He became a recluse long ago, but that does not diminish his scientific merits.
EDIT: That behaviour show what having a conscience means when you take it to the limit, which -to me- is really inspiring...
It is not only that. He left the IHES as a protest because it was partially founded by the NATO.
For non-specialists, the IHES is equivalent in 'scientific value' to any Insitute of your choice: Princeton, the Newton Institute, Max Planck, CERN... whatever. It is one of the few 'best of the best'.
He just left.
He became a recluse long ago, but that does not diminish his scientific merits.