Turing's Man: Western Culture in the Computer Age

Abstract

Part 1 Introduction: the measure of technological change the computer as a defining technology Turing's man. Part 2 Defining technologies in western culture: manual technology and the ancient world mechanical technology and western Europe dynamic technology and western Europe electronic technology from the clock to the computer the electronic brain. Part 3 Principles of operation: the Turing machine - states and symbols the von Neumann computer hardware and software. Part 4 Embodied symbol - mathematics by computer: binary representation and numerical analysis mathematics and culture embodied mathematics. Part 5 Embodied symbol - logic by computer: truth and the von Neumann machine the triumph of logic the embodiment of logical thought. Part 6 Electronic space: physical space logical space finite space infinite space the geometry of electronic space. Part 7 Time and progress in the computer age: electronic clocks time experienced and measured progress in circles the idea of progress. Part 8 Electronic language: natural and artificial language the hierarchy of computer language poetry and logic the ancient view the western European view silent structures. Part 9 Electronic memory: digital memory technology the art of memory information retrieval and electronic power. Part 10 Creator and creation: coherence and correspondence electronic limits creating by hand and by machine reason and necessity electronic play. Part 11 Artificial intelligence: Turing's game language, memory, and other games the technology of making man the electronic image of man artifact and artificer. Part 12 Conclusion: natural man from Socrates to Faust to Turing living with Turing's man invention and discovery the computer as a tool synthetic intelligence.