Godel, Escher, BachDouglas Hofstadter's book is concerned directly with the nature of “maps” or links between formal systems. However, according to Hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity transcends the system that supports it. If life can grow out of the formal chemical substrate of the cell, if consciousness can emerge out of a formal system of firing neurons, then so too will computers attain human intelligence. Gödel Escher and Bach is a wonderful exploration of fascinating ideas at the heart of cognitive science: meaning, reduction, recursion, and much more. |
What people are saying - Write a review
User ratings
| 5 stars |
| ||
| 4 stars |
| ||
| 3 stars |
| ||
| 2 stars |
| ||
| 1 star |
|
User Review - Overstock.com
This book well deserved the 1980 Pulitzer Prize it won. I obtained in the early 80s and read and reread it over many months and years. It is a very demanding book not light reading yet well worth it ... Read full review
Contents
The MUpuzzle | 33 |
Figure and Ground | 75 |
Cretan Labyrinth | 119 |
Copyright | |
140 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Achilles answer axiom Bach begin brain called canon carry cell Chapter comes complex concepts consistency contain copy course Crab derivation Dialogue Escher example exist express fact feel FIGURE formal system fugue geometry give given Gödel's happens human idea infinite inside instance intelligence interesting interpretation involves isomorphism kind language look loop machine mathematics matter meaning method mind natural never notion number theory object once operations perhaps picture piece play possible problem procedure produce proof question reasoning record recursive represented rules seems sense sentence SHRDLU simple single sounds specification statement step string structure suppose symbols tell theorem things thought tion Tortoise translation true turn understand wish
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | Godel, Escher, Bach Harvester studies in cognitive science |
| Author | Douglas R. Hofstadter |
| Contributor | Kurt Gödel |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Basic Books, 1979 |
| Original from | the University of California |
| Digitized | Aug 11, 2008 |
| ISBN | 0465026850, 9780465026852 |
| Length | 777 pages |
| Subjects | › Mathematics / General Philosophy / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |