Things a computer scientist rarely talks about /
Donald E. Knuth.
- Stanford, Calif. : CSLI Publications, c2001.
- xi, 257 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
- CSLI lecture notes ; no. 136 .
- CSLI lecture notes ; no. 136. .
Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
Why I am unqualified to give these lectures -- Why the lectures might be interesting anyway -- The 3:16 project, a turning point in my life -- Randomization and Religion -- The advantages of unbiased sampling as a way to gain insight into a complicated subject -- Dangers to avoid when using this approach -- Language Translation -- How to translate Bible verses without knowing Hebrew or Greek -- The surprising rewards of such attempts, even though the task is difficult or impossible -- Aesthetics -- Scientific work as an artistic endeavor -- The deep influence that beautiful presentation can have on our understanding of texts -- Illustrations by many of the world's greatest masters of calligraphy -- Glimpses of God -- What I think I learned about God from the 3:16 project -- What I think I learned about theology from the 3:16 project -- The difference between the two -- God and Computer Science -- Computer programmers as creators of new universes -- Computational complexity as a way to approach the questions of free will and omnipotence -- Other concepts of computer science that may give insights about divinity -- Panel: Creativity, Spirituality, and Computer Science.
How does a computer scientist understand infinity? What can probability theory teach us about free will? This book contains six informal lectures by computer scientist Donald E. Knuth exploring the relationship between his vocation and his faith.