On the Origin of Objects (A Bradford Book)

Smith, Brian Cantwell

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0262692090 ISBN 13: 9780262692090

Publisher: MIT Press, 1998

On the Origin of Objects An investigation into the philosophical and metaphysical foundations of computation, artificial intelligence and cognitive science. The text seeks to revise our understanding not only of the machines we build, but also of the world with which they interact.

Review:

-- John Haugeland, Professor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh

" Like the work of Simon, Chomsky, Kuhn, and Foucault, Brian Cantwell Smith's "On the Origin of Objects" comes into philosophy from the outside and stands to shake things up. This is an essay in fundamental metaphysics, but not like any we've ever seen before. Bringing to ontology the training of a computer scientist, and the sensibilities of an artist-engineer, Smith recreates our understanding of objects essentially from scratch--and changes, I think, everything." -- John Haugeland, Professor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh

& quot; Like the work of Simon, Chomsky, Kuhn, and Foucault, Brian Cantwell Smith's On the Origin of Objects comes into philosophy from the outside and stands to shake things up. This is an essay in fundamental metaphysics, but not like any we've ever seen before. Bringing to ontology the training of a computer scientist, and the sensibilities of an artist-engineer, Smith recreates our understanding of objects essentially from scratch--and changes, I think, everything.& quot; -- John Haugeland, Professor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh

"Like the work of Simon, Chomsky, Kuhn, and Foucault, Brian Cantwell Smith's "On the Origin of Objects" comes into philosophy from the outside and stands to shake things up. This is an essay in fundamental metaphysics, but not like any we've ever seen before. Bringing to ontology the training of a computer scientist, and the sensibilities of an artist-engineer, Smith recreates our understanding of objects essentially from scratch--and changes, I think, everything."--John Haugeland, Professor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh

Synopsis:

This text represents the culmination of a decade long investigation into the philosophical and metaphysical foundations of computation, artificial intelligence and cognitive science. Based on a sustained critique of the formal tradition that underlies the reigning views, the author presents an argument for an embedded, participatory, "irreductionist" metaphysical alternative. The author seeks to revise our understanding not only of the machines we build, but also of the world with which they interact. The project begins as a search for a comprehensive theory of computation, able to do empirical justice to practice and conceptual justice to the computational theory of mind. This leads ultimately to the recommendation of a radical overhaul of our traditional conception of metaphysics.