In Defence of Computer Science: from Aristotle to Agile - Hardcover

by Samuel R. J. George (Author)

In this genre-busting book, Dr George conducts a whistle-stop critique of the state of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. He rewinds philosophy to ancient Greece, computing to Babbage and physics to the thermodynamics of Lord Kelvin. New foundations are laid in a topological relationship established between Hilbert's second and sixth problems and the Church-Turing conjecture. From there, he constructs a new testable theory of quantum gravity and comes to some striking conclusions about the nature of reality, the future of humanity and the planet. Music sustains them all.

Starting from a philosophical analysis of problems in engineering specification, the author systematically formulates a new approach to thinking about computation and its relationship to science, humanity and the mind. This leads to some surprising insights into basic physics. Familiar arguments are approached from unusual directions, leading to a new theory of cosmology developed from simple thermodynamics. Explanations are put forward for a variety of unexplained physical phenomena, and experiments suggested.

This book can be read in many ways: as an essay, as a scientific and philosophical argument, or as an engineering methodology. There may even be a little poetry.