The philosophy of computer science is concerned with the philosophical questions that arise within the study of computer science. There is still no common understanding of the content, aims, focus or topics of the field, despite attempts to develop a philosophy of computer science comparable to the philosophy of physics or the philosophy of mathematics; because of the abstract nature of computer programs and the technological ambitions of computer science, many of its conceptual questions are also comparable to those raised in the philosophy of science, the philosophy of mathematics and the philosophy of technology.
Facts
Central QuestionSourced to the subject's own account Key DebateSourced to the subject's own accountWhether computation is defined by symbolic meaning, physical causation, or functional organization, an unresolved dispute over what computation fundamentally is. 1 Key DebateSourced to the subject's own accountWhether P equals NP, the open problem of whether every problem whose solution can be verified in polynomial time can also be solved in polynomial time. Most computer scientists believe P does not equal NP, and some, such as Scott Aaronson, have argued for this partly on philosophical grounds about what a positive answer would mean for the nature of creativity and problem solving. 1 Connections
Associated With
Source Philosophy of Computer Science (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Philosophy of Computer Science (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
The question of "What is computation?" remains a central question in relation to the philosophy of computer science.
Nature of computation discussion
These various perspectives illustrate the ongoing debate about the meaning of computation and whether it is defined by symbolic meaning, physical causation, or functional organization.
P versus NP problem section
If P = NP, then the world would be a profoundly different place than we usually assume it to be.
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