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One of the most fascinating things I discovered when studying Computer Science is the deep connection that exists between CS and Philosophy in general. When CS

by rimher 10y ago

One of the most fascinating things I discovered when studying Computer Science is the deep connection that exists between CS and Philosophy in general. When CS was born, it wasn't by 'accident' or because some 'genius' invented it. There were some impressively intelligent people out there, that contributed in a very meaningful way. Philosophy paved the road to get there though, and it's always strange to discover how it has done so through the ages.

chadgeidel 10y ago
Interesting, I'd love to hear more. Can you recommend any books or papers exploring this topic?
- dmreedy 10y ago
  If you're interested in more about this particular subject, I think Gleick does a pretty good job of providing a 'road through history' on the subject of the representation/computation duality in "The Information". If you're keen on the broader problems of philosophy that will sound strikingly familiar to anyone who has studied a bit of computer science, Bertrand Russell's "Problems in Philosophy" is a tidy little dip into the fundamental problems philosophers have wrestled with throughout history, and the various tools they've invented to solve them (including logic, mathematics, and by extension, computer science)
- rimher 10y ago
  This might be cliche, but one of the books that I felt had the best approach in tying it all together is "Gödel, Escher & Bach". It's brilliant in its simplicity and makes all the right connections between a simplified exploration of Computer Science and a lot of the important logical and historical aspects.
- pizza 10y ago
  "The Fastest and Shortest Algorithm for All Well-Defined Problems" https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/0206022 https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/0206022
jonsen 10y ago
Then maybe one of the very first computer scientist's take on philosophy would interest you. A PDF of his Antiphilosophical Dictionary is available here: http://www.naur.com http://www.naur.com
- rimher 10y ago
  Awesome, thanks!

by rimher 10y ago

chadgeidel 10y ago

Interesting, I'd love to hear more. Can you recommend any books or papers exploring this topic?

dmreedy 10y ago
If you're interested in more about this particular subject, I think Gleick does a pretty good job of providing a 'road through history' on the subject of the representation/computation duality in "The Information". If you're keen on the broader problems of philosophy that will sound strikingly familiar to anyone who has studied a bit of computer science, Bertrand Russell's "Problems in Philosophy" is a tidy little dip into the fundamental problems philosophers have wrestled with throughout history, and the various tools they've invented to solve them (including logic, mathematics, and by extension, computer science)
rimher 10y ago
This might be cliche, but one of the books that I felt had the best approach in tying it all together is "Gödel, Escher & Bach". It's brilliant in its simplicity and makes all the right connections between a simplified exploration of Computer Science and a lot of the important logical and historical aspects.
pizza 10y ago
"The Fastest and Shortest Algorithm for All Well-Defined Problems" https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/0206022 https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/0206022

jonsen 10y ago

Then maybe one of the very first computer scientist's take on philosophy would interest you. A PDF of his Antiphilosophical Dictionary is available here: http://www.naur.com http://www.naur.com

rimher 10y ago
Awesome, thanks!