Subject: Ray Turner: 3 lectures on philosophy of computer science From: "William J. Rapaport" Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 12:58:45 -0500 (EST) Prof. Raymond Turner School of Computer Science & Electronic Engineering University of Essex (UK) http://cswww.essex.ac.uk/staff/turnr/ will be giving a series of three lectures at UB: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Philosophy of Computer Science colloquium: Wednesday, March 17, 2:00 pm, Park 280 "Specification and Artefact" The specification and construction of computational artefacts is a central activity of Computer Science. This activity is to be found throughout the discipline. Indeed, it is partly constitutive of it. Thus, unpacking the nature of specification will provide some conceptual insight into the nature of the discipline as a whole. In particular, we shall explore how specifications differ from scientific theories. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Buffalo Logic Colloquium Thursday, March 18, 3:30 pm, Park 141 "Logics of Definitions" What is the role and nature of definitions? How do they function in mathematics, computer science, and engineering? In this talk, we shall address these and some connected questions. To facilitate this, we introduce a logical framework (typed predicate logic), and use it to explore various notions of definition, including the concept of specification as it is used in computer science and engineering. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. UB IGERT Colloquium Friday, March 19, 1:00 pm, Wilkeson Quad 144 "Semantics and Ontology" A proper conceptual analysis of the nature of programming languages will form a significant part of the philosophy of computer science. In particular, semantics raises immediate and recognisable philosophical concerns. It touches upon issues in: 1. The philosophy of language 2. Ontology 3. The philosophy of mathematics 4. The philosophies of science and engineering