5 ms·

Why not computer science?

Dudeman112 6y ago
Why computer science?
BrandoElFollito 6y ago
They are not sufficiently interested in the theory of computation for this to work out. They are more into applied science (applied to everyday life). Theory of computation is certainly interesting, though.
leephillips 6y ago
Computer science is not science, it is mathematics. Great stuff, but quite different stuff.
- ur-whale 6y ago
  > Computer science is not science Disagree profoundly. And if perchance you got to that conclusion because you believe you can't apply the scientific method to CS (as in: formulate a theory about how the world "is", design an experiment to test the theory, run the experiment, rinse, repeat), you are mistaken: when dealing with systems of exploding complexity (which is, btw and imo, what physics is all about as well), this is a very fruitful attack strategy.
  - BrandoElFollito 6y ago
    I think that the theoretical aspects of CS are interesting, this is lots of math (especially crypto) and lots of formal proofs (algorithms). Being able to predict how complex and long simulations will be is great as well. BTW I think that "Computer Science" is interpreted differently in different countries. In France for instance we have _informatique_ which means "things with computers" and usually is understood as "development" or "system/network administration". _
    - sudosysgen 6y ago
      As a francophone, is informatique not supposed to be lexically close to other sciences in -ique to denote it being closer to Computer Science in meaning? As the académie put it: "science du traitement de l'information"
      - BrandoElFollito 6y ago
        Yes, this is true. But when you say "je travaille dans l'informatique" (I work in <informatique>), what comes to mind is a developer or a sysadmin. Not someone who does "computer science" (algorithms etc.). "Je fais de la recherche en informatique" (I do research in <informatique>) would mean doing "computer science". I am not sure what comes to mind to a native speaker of English when he heard "I work in computer science". Maye the same thing, actaully. In which case "computer science" would be one "science" where you actually need to add "science" (as opposed to physics, biology, ...) On the other hand, we have in French "Science de la Vie et de la Terre" - a school subject loosely grouping biology and geology.
  - leephillips 6y ago
    I think you only think that you disagree. But I could be completely wrong. The method that you describe is used in exploring mathematical landscapes, including CS. But, still, some people (like me) find it useful to distinguish between mathematics (including CS) and science, by which we mean empirical science. But I would agree strongly that the boundary is very fuzzy.
  - sebastialonso 6y ago
    It seems in different countries (and universities) Computer Science mean different things. In my country, Computer Science is exclusively theoretical study of some areas of mathematics. You don't go into CS to run experiments, just like in mathematics. You go to study theorems and complexity theory. Anything related to the act of developing software is called Software Engineering/Informatic Engineering. Totally different things: as different as a mathematician and a bridge builder. In the real world there's an evident intersection between CS and SE, but in academia (in my country), CS _is_ math.
    - rramadass 6y ago
      I think this is the "correct" approach. Much of what SWE do is analogous to Trade/Vocational/Polytechnic school training.
- zoolily 6y ago
  Computer science is a combination of fields, including mathematics (theory of computation, cryptography), empirical science (empirical software engineering, HCI, etc.), and engineering.

Why computer science?

They are not sufficiently interested in the theory of computation for this to work out. They are more into applied science (applied to everyday life). Theory of computation is certainly interesting, though.

leephillips 6y ago

Computer science is not science, it is mathematics. Great stuff, but quite different stuff.

ur-whale 6y ago
> Computer science is not science Disagree profoundly. And if perchance you got to that conclusion because you believe you can't apply the scientific method to CS (as in: formulate a theory about how the world "is", design an experiment to test the theory, run the experiment, rinse, repeat), you are mistaken: when dealing with systems of exploding complexity (which is, btw and imo, what physics is all about as well), this is a very fruitful attack strategy.
- BrandoElFollito 6y ago
  I think that the theoretical aspects of CS are interesting, this is lots of math (especially crypto) and lots of formal proofs (algorithms). Being able to predict how complex and long simulations will be is great as well. BTW I think that "Computer Science" is interpreted differently in different countries. In France for instance we have _informatique_ which means "things with computers" and usually is understood as "development" or "system/network administration". _
  - sudosysgen 6y ago
    As a francophone, is informatique not supposed to be lexically close to other sciences in -ique to denote it being closer to Computer Science in meaning? As the académie put it: "science du traitement de l'information"
    - BrandoElFollito 6y ago
      Yes, this is true. But when you say "je travaille dans l'informatique" (I work in <informatique>), what comes to mind is a developer or a sysadmin. Not someone who does "computer science" (algorithms etc.). "Je fais de la recherche en informatique" (I do research in <informatique>) would mean doing "computer science". I am not sure what comes to mind to a native speaker of English when he heard "I work in computer science". Maye the same thing, actaully. In which case "computer science" would be one "science" where you actually need to add "science" (as opposed to physics, biology, ...) On the other hand, we have in French "Science de la Vie et de la Terre" - a school subject loosely grouping biology and geology.
- leephillips 6y ago
  I think you only think that you disagree. But I could be completely wrong. The method that you describe is used in exploring mathematical landscapes, including CS. But, still, some people (like me) find it useful to distinguish between mathematics (including CS) and science, by which we mean empirical science. But I would agree strongly that the boundary is very fuzzy.
- sebastialonso 6y ago
  It seems in different countries (and universities) Computer Science mean different things. In my country, Computer Science is exclusively theoretical study of some areas of mathematics. You don't go into CS to run experiments, just like in mathematics. You go to study theorems and complexity theory. Anything related to the act of developing software is called Software Engineering/Informatic Engineering. Totally different things: as different as a mathematician and a bridge builder. In the real world there's an evident intersection between CS and SE, but in academia (in my country), CS _is_ math.
  - rramadass 6y ago
    I think this is the "correct" approach. Much of what SWE do is analogous to Trade/Vocational/Polytechnic school training.
zoolily 6y ago
Computer science is a combination of fields, including mathematics (theory of computation, cryptography), empirical science (empirical software engineering, HCI, etc.), and engineering.