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In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

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31–40 of 53 posts

Re: In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

#31
post #28

I can't wait for Apple TV to make a Leibniz biopic series as they did with Asimov's Foundation. It would be so interesting watching her developing Calculus, thanks to her sightseeing powers while working for the emperor.

Maybe they'll just pick up the rights to Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

It’s amazing that no one has done this yet.

Just get Johnny Depp to play Jack Shaftoe.

Re: In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

#32
post #28

I can't wait for Apple TV to make a Leibniz biopic series as they did with Asimov's Foundation. It would be so interesting watching her developing Calculus, thanks to her sightseeing powers while working for the emperor.

Maybe they'll just pick up the rights to Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

But would Johnny Depp still be willing to reprise his role of syphillitic Jack?

Re: In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

#33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe they'll just pick up the rights to Stephenson's Baroque Cycle

It’s amazing that no one has done this yet. Just get Johnny Depp to play Jack Shaftoe.

If Snow Crash ever makes it out of development hell, I think it becomes more likely

Re: In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

#34
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The mathematics side of CS would be Gödel probably.

The mathematics of CS is mainly logic, for which Gödel isn't essentially the leading light. Very important theories he contributed, but they don't necessarily define logic. I'd be more inclined to attribute to Russell or any of his influencers (like Frege).

CS would undoubtedly be John von Neumann.

Re: In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

#37

We take boolean logic for granted, yet Bool's Laws of Thought do a pretty astonishing job of expressing ideas, though at the same time are so far. https://wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laws_of_Thought

Also a direct link to shannon use of binary logic

Re: In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

#39
post #36

Leibniz was inspired by Ramon Llull, a 13th century philospher/mystic/poet from Mallorca. https://publicdomainreview.org/essay/let-us-calculate-leibni... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramon_Llull

Right! Unfortunately, because the feud between Catholics and Protestants at that time, the later seldom recognize the influences of the former and it seems that there were these “dark ages” until they arrived.

See, for instance, the School of Salamanca: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/school-salamanca/

Re: In the 17th century, Leibniz dreamed of a machine that could calculate ideas

#40
He was wrong because there are so many systems of thought; because he wasn't accounting for or aware of the existance of subconscious thought; because thoughts are context dependant; and of course because all formal systems of this sort tend to suffer incompleteness. However, I have only the greatest respect, as asking a question that leads to so many deep and interesting answers is far more difficult and important then having a "correct hypothesis".
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