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IP: Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About

From: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1999 08:15:10 -0400

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Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 09:56:55 -0400
To: farber () cis upenn edu
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Date: Thu, 19 Aug 1999 04:24:10 -0700 (PDT)
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Date: Mon, 16 Aug 1999 19:30:33 -0400 (EDT)
From: Anne Foerst <annef () ai mit edu>
Subject: Don Knuth, speaker for the Fall "God and Computers" series

The "God and Computers" project continues in Fall 1999! We will
have, however, a slightly different format and present our
speaker for the Fall,

                      DONALD E. KNUTH

     Professor Emeritus of The Art of Computer Programming
                    Stanford University

Don will give a series of six lectures about interactions between
faith and computer science. As always, the lectures are free and
open for the public. They will be held at MIT 34-101 (50 Vassar
ST) on Wednesdays. We will start at 4:15 pm with refreshments,
the talks and discussions begin at 4:30 pm. The lecture series
is entitled,

         THINGS A COMPUTER SCIENTIST RARELY TALKS ABOUT

  Lecture 1 (October 6): Introduction.
    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.

  Lecture 2 (October 13): 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.

  Lecture 3 (October 27): 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.

  Lecture 4 (November 3): 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.

  Panel Discussion (November 17)

  Lecture 5 (December 1): 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.

  Lecture 6 (December 8): God and Computer Science.
    Computer programmers as creators of new universes.
    Computational complexity as a way to approach questions of
      free will and omnipotence.
    Other concepts of computer science that may give insights
      about divinity.

- --
Dr.theol. Anne Foerst

MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab   545 Technology SQ, # 934
                                  Cambridge, MA 02139
                                  +1 / 617 / 253-6532

Center for the Study of Values    Harvard Divinity School
in Public Life                    56 Francis Ave
                                  Cambridge, MA 02138

http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/annef/

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IP: Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About Dave Farber (Aug 20)