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The Philosophy of Computer Science (2013)

plato.stanford.edu

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Re: The Philosophy of Computer Science (2013)

#31

Post by scott_s »

yzzxy wrote: post #25
Madmallard wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Major in the most practical stuff, minor in the interesting stuff. I'd say CS/EECS major, Philsophy and Math minors with focuses in AI for everything. You have the option after that for doing AI in a master's or PHD program.

Thanks for not answering the questions I asked - namely whether CS degrees administered partially by philosophy departments are any good - and for making the assumption that you know what is "practical" and what is "interesting" for me. Not everyone wants to follow the classic SV career path.

In case you're wondering: you're being downvoted for being rude. You asked for advice, received it, then attacked someone who gave you good-faith advice.

Re: The Philosophy of Computer Science (2013)

#32

Post by surement »

yzzxy wrote: post #2

I'm considering several undergrad degree programs in computer science through university philosophy departments. Has anyone had a similar experience who could share their feedback? I've really enjoyed reading the basic philosophy I've covered so far and things like decision and game theory also fascinate me. I think it could also be a good track to AI research, though probably not the modern machine learning style? A…

Some universities offer programs that combine CS and philosophy with AI in mind, for example http://www.cogsys.ubc.ca/about/

Re: The Philosophy of Computer Science (2013)

#33

Post by metaphorm »

tjradcliffe wrote: post #4
yzzxy wrote: post #2

I'm considering several undergrad degree programs in computer science through university philosophy departments. Has anyone had a similar experience who could share their feedback? I've really enjoyed reading the basic philosophy I've covered so far and things like decision and game theory also fascinate me. I think it could also be a good track to AI research, though probably not the modern machine learning style? A…

I have an undergraduate degree in engineering, a PhD in physics and some post-graduate education in philosophy, and have worked closely with philosophers on real problems in epistemology and metaphysics, mostly around identity theory. On the basis of that experience, I would recommend focusing on a traditional CS or EECS degree, and take philosophy on the side. By taking a traditional degree you will provide yourself…

upvoted, for well written, detailed and thoughtful post. as others have mentioned, i don't completely agree with your critique of positivism here. i've always seen positivism as a philosophical movement to try and ground philosophy in verifiable propositions, which is to say, to make it more like physical science.

Re: The Philosophy of Computer Science (2013)

#34

Post by yzzxy »

scott_s wrote: post #31
yzzxy wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for not answering the questions I asked - namely whether CS degrees administered partially by philosophy departments are any good - and for making the assumption that you know what is "practical" and what is "interesting" for me. Not everyone wants to follow the classic SV career path.

In case you're wondering: you're being downvoted for being rude. You asked for advice, received it, then attacked someone who gave you good-faith advice.

You're right, I was overly rude, and I regret the wording of what I wrote. I feel the above commenter was misguided in the subject his advice but it was probably well-intended.

Re: The Philosophy of Computer Science (2013)

#35

Post by Retra »

kijin wrote: post #20
yzzxy wrote: post #2

I'm considering several undergrad degree programs in computer science through university philosophy departments. Has anyone had a similar experience who could share their feedback? I've really enjoyed reading the basic philosophy I've covered so far and things like decision and game theory also fascinate me. I think it could also be a good track to AI research, though probably not the modern machine learning style? A…

Philosophy PhD here. Get a degree in a STEM field and do philosophy on the side, possibly as a minor. Philosophy is badly in need of people who possess serious expertise in other fields and who can bring their expertise to bear on philosophical issues. We've had enough of people who only ever studied philosophy. On the other hand, if your university has some sort of interdisciplinary program that combines philosophy…

There is nothing I hate more than a philosopher who doesn't know physics and information science. (Actually... there are a lot of things that are worse, but they do still annoy me quite a bit.)

Re: The Philosophy of Computer Science (2013)

#36

Post by walterbell »

j2kun wrote: post #30
walterbell wrote: post #6

"Who is the most original and the most versatile intellect that the Americas have so far produced? The answer "Charles S. Peirce" is uncontested, because any second would be so far behind as not to be worth nominating. Mathematician, astronomer, chemist, geodesist, surveyor, cartographer, metrologist, spectroscopist, engineer, inventor; psychologist, philologist, lexicographer, historian of science, mathematical econ…

Reading through the background materials, some of the claims they make seem a bit suspect. Many of the "discoveries" are that he suggested something might be possible without actually giving any evidence or construction besides his own philosophical musings. This is in re: cardinals, information theory, and computers. And then because someone did it later he is cited as a genius before his time. But if he wrote over…

> how many of his claims and ideas were false, misleading, or inaccurate?

A century has passed and his work has been analyzed by a variety of academics. Pointers to capable critiques would be welcome.

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