Philosophy and Computer Science

Introducing the philosphical basics of computer science and the contributions that philosophy and computer science can make to each other, this text investigates what makes computer science an empirical science and offers philosophical issues associated with artificial intelligence practices. Colburn (computer science, U. of Minnesota-Duluth) has a doctorate in philosophy and an advanced degree in computer science; he's worked as a philosophy professor, a computer programmer, and a research scientist in artificial intelligence. Here he discusses the philosophical foundations of artificial intelligence; the new encounter of science and philosophy (logic, models of the mind and of reasoning, epistemology); and the philosophy of computer science (touching on math, abstraction, software, and ontology).