Philosophy of Computer Science
An Introduction to the Issues and the Literature

1. Auflage Februar 2023
528 Seiten, Softcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
A unique resource exploring the nature of computers and computing, and their relationships to the world.
Philosophy of Computer Science is a university-level textbook designed to guide readers through an array of topics at the intersection of philosophy and computer science. Accessible to students from either discipline, or complete beginners to both, the text brings readers up to speed on a conversation about these issues, so that they can read the literature for themselves, form their own reasoned opinions, and become part of the conversation by contributing their own views.
Written by a highly qualified author in the field, the book looks at some of the central questions in the philosophy of computer science, including:
* What is philosophy? (for readers who might be unfamiliar with it)
* What is computer science and its relationship to science and to engineering?
* What are computers, computing, algorithms, and programs?(Includes a line-by-line reading of portions of Turing's classic 1936 paper that introduced Turing Machines, as well as discussion of the Church-Turing Computability Thesis and hypercomputation challenges to it)
* How do computers and computation relate to the physical world?
* What is artificial intelligence, and should we build AIs?
* Should we trust decisions made by computers?
A companion website contains annotated suggestions for further reading and an instructor's manual.
Philosophy of Computer Science is a must-have for philosophy students, computer scientists, and general readers who want to think philosophically about computer science.
I Philosophy and Computer Science 21
1 An Introduction to the Philosophy of Computer Science 25
2 Philosophy: A Personal View 31
II Computer Science, Computers, and Computation 65
3 What Is Computer Science? 69
4 Science 107
5 Engineering 127
6 Computers: A Brief History 141
7 Algorithms and Computability 155
8 Turing's Analysis of Computation 201
9 Computers: A Philosophical Perspective 253
III The Church-Turing Computability Thesis 291
10 Procedures 295
11 Hypercomputation 311
IV Computer Programs 341
12 Software and Hardware 345
13 Implementation 365
14 Computer Programs as Scientific Theories 389
15 Computer Programs as Mathematical Objects 405
16 Programs and the World 433
V Computer Ethics and Artificial Intelligence 471
17 Computer Ethics I: Should We Trust Computers? 475
18 Philosophy of Artificial Intelligence 489
19 Computer Ethics II: Should We Builld Artificial Intelligences? 525
VI Closing Remarks 537
20 Computer Science: A Personal View 539
Bibliography 551