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Physical Computation: A Mechanistic Account
Gualtiero Piccinini
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Description for Physical Computation: A Mechanistic Account
Hardback. Computation permeates our world, but a satisfactory philosophical theory of what it is has been lacking. Gualtiero Piccinini presents a mechanistic account of what makes a physical system a computing system. He argues that computation does not entail representation or information-processing, although information-processing entails computation. Num Pages: 336 pages. BIC Classification: PBB; PBC; UY. Category: (P) Professional & Vocational; (U) Tertiary Education (US: College). Dimension: 167 x 242 x 26. Weight in Grams: 652.
Gualtiero Piccinini articulates and defends a mechanistic account of concrete, or physical, computation. A physical system is a computing system just in case it is a mechanism one of whose functions is to manipulate vehicles based solely on differences between different portions of the vehicles according to a rule defined over the vehicles. Physical Computation discusses previous accounts of computation and argues that the mechanistic account is better. Many kinds of computation are explicated, such as digital vs. analog, serial vs. parallel, neural network computation, program-controlled computation, and more. Piccinini argues that computation does not entail representation or information processing ... Read more
Gualtiero Piccinini articulates and defends a mechanistic account of concrete, or physical, computation. A physical system is a computing system just in case it is a mechanism one of whose functions is to manipulate vehicles based solely on differences between different portions of the vehicles according to a rule defined over the vehicles. Physical Computation discusses previous accounts of computation and argues that the mechanistic account is better. Many kinds of computation are explicated, such as digital vs. analog, serial vs. parallel, neural network computation, program-controlled computation, and more. Piccinini argues that computation does not entail representation or information processing ... Read more
Product Details
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Format
Hardback
Publication date
2015
Condition
New
Weight
652g
Number of Pages
324
Place of Publication
Oxford, United Kingdom
ISBN
9780199658855
SKU
V9780199658855
Shipping Time
Usually ships in 15 to 20 working days
Ref
99-11
About Gualtiero Piccinini
Gualtiero Piccinini is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Missouri, St. Louis. Shortly after his appointment to the position in 2005, he founded Brains, which later became a group blog in the philosophy of mind and related sciences. He received early tenure and promotion in 2010 and early promotion to full professor in 2014. Between 2001 and 2014 he ... Read more
Reviews for Physical Computation: A Mechanistic Account
Piccinini's discussion is a notable contribution that offers a bounty of insights into computation and computing practice. All philosophers interested in computation must read this highly informative and thought-provoking book.
Michael Rescorla, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
the mechanistic account of physical computation is the best that we currently have ... Physical Computation is eminently readable ... Read more
Michael Rescorla, British Journal for the Philosophy of Science
the mechanistic account of physical computation is the best that we currently have ... Physical Computation is eminently readable ... Read more