The Link between Computing and Philosophy

Computing has been in the grasp of the individual for a long time when the truth of this fact is measured in terms of human lifetimes. However, the proliferation of (as in Gates' "ubiquitous") computing by artificial automata is new. I am suggesting we focus upon computing machinery rather than the phenomenology of symbols. Otherwise, we fall prey to the argument that philosophers have long contemplated computing by citing the critique of writing in Plato's Phaedrus. However, this computing was done by human beings, natural automata--the term used by John von Neumann--when they are speaking, reading, and writing. Therefore, it is not surprising that ancient thinkers merely fantasized about artificial automata, if they included them at all within the scope of their work on computing. That is not to say that a great deal of their work does not seek to understand the workings of the human mind. As a representative of ancient philosophers of computing, Plato's Socrates dared not venture into low level psychodynamics, but instead suggested beginning with the approach outlined in later parts of Phaedrus analyzing the ambiguity of words. You can imagine they wished they could comprehend the mechanics of the human soul, but knew better than to try. We come to an anchoring quote of von Neumann that will be a recurring theme of this meditation: "of all automata of high complexity, computing machines are the ones which we have the best chance of understanding." Suppose, then, that the Socratic maxim "know thyself" can be serviced indirectly by coming to know electronic computer technology.