The Philosophical Foundations of Computation: Turing's Principle of Sufficient Computation
By
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Crisped on the outside, thoughtful enough on the inside.
Summary
The article explores the philosophical and theoretical foundations of computation, examining Alan Turing's definition of computers as machines that can perform any logical task. It introduces the concept of the "Principle of Sufficient Computation" (adapting François Laruelle's terminology), which posits that computers can actuate any event that can be formulated as an idea. The piece discusses how this principle reveals key characteristics of computing, including its central role in modern thought and its capacity to simulate any logical process.
Key quotes
· 4 pulledWe do not yet know what a computer can't do.
For nearly one hundred years, the computer has been defined capaciously, as a machine that can do the work of any other machine provided it can be defined logically (Alan Turing).
Turing's definition could be renamed the Principle of Sufficient Computation; the definition ensures that the computer can actuate any and all events, provided they are formulated as ideas.
The Principle of Sufficient Computation thus reveals a series of characteristics common in computing.
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