Date: Wed, 20 Nov 1996 22:33:02 GMT Server: Apache/1.0.3 Content-type: text/html Content-length: 10105 Last-modified: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 05:03:20 GMT Conceptual Models of Computing

B609: Conceptual Models of Computing


A. Introduction

Could a computer be conscious? What would a continuous programming language be like? What kind of "materiality" exists on the Web? How will computation affect the future of science? What about quantum and DNA computers? Is it ethical to give computers power over human life?

Addressing such questions requires knowing what computers are, and what computation is -- to a depth (it is argued in this course) beyond that reached by current theories. Come and find out why: what we know, what we don't know, what a more adequate theory would look like.


A critical examination of the conceptual foundations of computing, focusing on:

  1. The models and metaphors in terms of which we understand computing -- from programs to processes, architecture to abstraction, parameterization to parallelism; and
  2. The use of computational concepts in adjacent fields -- from cognitive science to physics, economics to art.

Initially, we focus on six traditional views: formal symbol manipulation, recursive function theory, effective computability & computational complexity, digital state machines, information processing, and Newell and Simon's notion of a physical symbol system. Non-standard views are also considered, such as connectionism, non-linear dynamics, and artificial life. Throughout, each view is judged by its ability to do justice to practice. We conclude by briefly considering the wider role of computational concepts in intellectual life -- including their affect on our self-conception.


B. Administrative details


C. Content

  1. Reading: Primary reading will be selections from the first 3 volumes of the instructor's forthcoming series of books on the philosophy of computation (The Middle Distance: An Essay on the Foundations of Computation and Intentionality). Supporting material to be selected from Dretske, Dreyfus, Fodor, Goodman, Haugeland, Hayes, Kleene, Minsky, Newell, Penrose, Shannon, Simon, Turing, Webb, and others.
  2. Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites; students should have substantial computational expertise (typically from a combination of programming and instruction) and familiarity with conceptual argumentation (typically from one or more philosophy courses). If in doubt please contact the instructor.
  3. Grading: No midterm or final exam. Three or four "problem sets" will be distributed, each consisting of a series of structured essay questions (a term paper may be substituted for final problem set, at the student's discretion). The notion of a "right" or "wrong" answer is considered inappropriate; grades wil be based on the clarity, imagination, and depth of answer. Experience suggests that it will take the typical student ~20 hours to complete each problem set to a grade-A level.
  4. Format: It is (tentatively) planned that problem set responses will be submitted on-line, where they will be graded, cross-referenced, and made available to other class members. An on-line discussion of each question will be conducted after problem sets solutions have been submitted.
  5. Sections: No formal sections. Students are encouraged to work on problem sets in groups, provided a list of group members is included with the response.

D. Schedule and Readings (tentative)

Part I - Introduction (3 weeks)

Part II - Formal Symbol Manipulation (4 weeks)

Part III - Effective Computability and Recursion Theory (4 weeks)

Part IV - Information Processing (optional)

Part V - Digital State Machines (3 weeks)

Part VI - Some Applications to Practice (optional)

  1. Scott, Dana, and Christopher Strachey, "Toward a Mathematical Semantics for Computer Languages"
  2. Barwise, Jon, "Mathematical Proofs of Computer System Correctness"
  3. Smith, Brian Cantwell, "The Correspondence Continuum"

Part VII - The Age of Significance (1 week)

  1. TMD-I (Introduction) Chapter 5: "Synopsis"
  2. TMD-I (Introduction) Chapter 6: "The Age of Significance"

Last modified: Friday, 23 August 1996