Gillies, D.;
(2002)
Logicism and the development of computer science.
In: Kakas, A.C. and Sadri, F., (eds.)
Computational Logic: Logic Programming and Beyond Essays in Honour of Robert A. Kowalski, Part II.
(pp. 588-604).
Springer Verlag: Berlin/ Heidelberg, Germany.
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Abstract
This paper argues for the thesis that ideas originating in the philosophy of mathematics have proved very helpful for the development of computer science. In particular, logicism, the view that mathematics can be reduced to logic, was developed by Frege and Russell, long before computers were invented, and yet many of the ideas of logicism have been central to computer science. The paper attempts to explain how this serendipity came about. It also applies Wittgenstein’s later theory of meaning to human-computer interaction, and draws the conclusion that computers do understand the meaning of the symbols they process. The formal language of logic is suitable for humans trying to communicate with computers.
| Type: | Book chapter |
|---|---|
| Title: | Logicism and the development of computer science |
| ISBN-13: | 9783540439608 |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1007/3-540-45632-5_23 |
| Publisher version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/3-540-45632-5_23 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Paper from part XI: Computational Logic and Philosophy. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com |
| Keywords: | AI Logics, agent-oriented programming, automated reasoning, computational logic, description logic, formal verification, knowledge representation, logic programming, predicate calculus, prolog, proof theory, resolution, theorem proving |
| UCL classification: | UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > Dept of Science and Technology Studies |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/16390 |
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