Description
Alan Turing is regarded as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. But who was Turing, and what did he achieve during his tragically short life of 41 years? Best known as the genius who broke Germany's most secret codes during the war of 1939-45, Turing was also the father of the modern computer. Today, all who 'click-to-open' are familiar with the impact of Turing's ideas. Here, B. Jack Copeland provides an account of Turing's life and work, exploring the key elements of his life-story in tandem with his leading ideas and contributions. The book highlights Turing's contributions to computing and to computer science, including Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Life, and the emphasis throughout is on the relevance of his work to modern developments. The story of his contributions to codebreaking during the Second World War is set in the context of his thinking about machines, as is the account of his work in the foundations of mathematics.
About the Author
Jack Copeland is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where he is Director of the Turing Archive for the History of Computing. His books include The Essential Turing (Oxford University Press), Colossus: The Secrets of Bletchley Park's Codebreaking Computers (Oxford University Press), Alan Turing's Automatic Computing Engine (Oxford University Press), Logic and Reality: Essays on the Legacy of Arthur Prior (Oxford University Press), and Artificial Intelligence (Blackwell). He has published more than 100 articles on the philosophy and history of computing, and mathematical and philosophical logic.
Reviews
This book is highly entertaining and informative * Zentralblatt Math, Teodora-Liliana Radulescu *
Fans drawn to the Turing biopic ... should move on to this lively biography of the scientific genius who cracked Enigma * Independent *
[T]hanks to Professor Copelands book we can walk with Alan Turing through his finest hours. * Jim Young, Glycosmedia *
This book is entertaining and informative ... Highly recommended. * S.M. Frey, CHOICE *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198719182
Author B. Jack Copeland
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 195mm * 129mm * 19mm
About the Author
Jack Copeland is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, where he is Director of the Turing Archive for the History of Computing. His books include The Essential Turing (Oxford University Press), Colossus: The Secrets of Bletchley Park's Codebreaking Computers (Oxford University Press), Alan Turing's Automatic Computing Engine (Oxford University Press), Logic and Reality: Essays on the Legacy of Arthur Prior (Oxford University Press), and Artificial Intelligence (Blackwell). He has published more than 100 articles on the philosophy and history of computing, and mathematical and philosophical logic.
Reviews
This book is highly entertaining and informative * Zentralblatt Math, Teodora-Liliana Radulescu *
Fans drawn to the Turing biopic ... should move on to this lively biography of the scientific genius who cracked Enigma * Independent *
[T]hanks to Professor Copelands book we can walk with Alan Turing through his finest hours. * Jim Young, Glycosmedia *
This book is entertaining and informative ... Highly recommended. * S.M. Frey, CHOICE *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198719182
Author B. Jack Copeland
Format Paperback
Page Count 320
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Dimensions(mm) 195mm * 129mm * 19mm
