Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About (Volume 136) (Lecture Notes)

The book is fascinating in and of itself. Knuth illustrates a whole different approach to analyzing the Bible and letting it teach you what it means (and not how to use the Bible to convince others of anything). In reading how he did this, I began to understand how Knuth approaches Computer Science. I am a self-taught programmer (FORTRAN, DYNAMO, C and C++) and not a very good one. In part this is because I don't understand the thinking behind solving computational problems. I haven't been able to understand Knuth before - maybe now I can start.

As a computer scientist, Donald Knuth is not expected to be a story teller. And he is not. But Donald Knuth is a terrific fact based writer. He knows how to think deeply, how to get deeper into a subject, its key elements, and their synthesis overall. Moreover, he knows how to write and present that to others after his thinking gets over. So, when God and Computers are to be brought together, he has left his mark through the six lectures he delivered at MIT by invitation.The lectures, however, draws a lot of examples from his project on Bible 3:16. At times, it seemed to be better to read his book on Bible 3:16 first, and then read this lecture series. He has been candid in stating his belonging to a specific branch of the Christianity (Lutheran), and at times the lectures gave a feeling that a thorough study of Bible (or history of Bible) would be helpful before reading this lecture series.Setting that apart, there is enough food for thought to a computer scientist. The first lecture states when it comes to theology Mr. Knuth is a user, not a developer. That instills a unique feeling to every programmer and computer scientist I am sure: when it comes to programming this tribe sits in the developers seat and they can now imagine how they can be perceived by the users if the work is done right.My second takeaway was the statement that talked about the importance of rational expression of all emotional feelings, but how hard it is to do in reality.The third and final takeaway was his experience in writing "Surreal Numbers". The story of how he spent six days in Oslo to write it up, and how his mind was blanked out on the seventh day, was simply amazing. The analogy of the muse sitting on his shoulder for six days and then moved off was quite profound.A must-read book for those who think themselves as computer scientists.

learned from the perspective of a computer scientist about his faith and dedication

Knuth presents some fascinating thoughts connecting computational thought to Christian thought. Knuth focuses more on aesthetics, art, and surprise. He also explore Project 3:16. There is an entire view that Knuth ignores which is the Bible is designed to withstand information warfare and corroborates information theory in its design and claims. It would have been more interesting if Knuth delved into the aspects of information theory and the Bible. Anyhow, a good read but a bit dry most of the time.

Overall disappointed with this book. Seems preachy and evangelical rather than thoughtful.

As some have mentioned, this book is indeed about a book. Nevertheless, I feel this has its own place, even if we were never to read the book (3:16) about which this book is largely about.What fascinated me was the fact that Knuth being an epitome of rational perfection, being inevitably drawn deep into questioning things that are beyond the physical realm of a scientist. A man of algorithms almost appeared like an algorithm himself, if we were to deduce about him from his classical computer science work The Art of Computer Programming.This book is a series of 6 lectures that he delivered on his experience about his interesting study of the scriptures. Instead of taking up one or two or a few standard versions of the scriptures and going through them one by one, Knuth approached his scriptural study using a randomized sampling approach. He chose Verse 16 of Chapter three from each of the 59 books from the bible, and of course being Knuth, referred endless versions of translations, and other sources.The six lectures are,IntroductionRandomization and ReligionLanguage TranslationAestheticsGlimpses of GodGod and Computer ScienceAnd the book concludes with a transcript of a panel discussion on'Creativity, Spirituality and Computer Science'Though this book really doesn't go deep into what he ultimately found, the account of his approach, why he undertook it, and why he did it the way he did is an interesting read.His compulsive need for aesthetics is clearly elaborated when he decided to "Illuminate" the 59 verses using the best calligraphers from all over the world.From the book, one is not absolutely clear whether he was able to reach the absolute Truth, or Salvation, which is the goal of spiritual studies. But he does offer pieces of suggestion that he has a better grip of things, and more at peace with the observable world than, before he undertook this work. For instance when confronted with the anomaly of Existence of Evil and an omnipotent God, he goes on and suggests, "We must try and imagine what a world without Evil would look like".This is a book that might trigger similar pursuits for the scientific mind.

There is nothing in this book. Avoid.

A very different take on 'theology' by a man who is a giant of his field and therefore commands a deal of respect.

コンピュータ科学という言葉に惹かれた。科学者ではないが、コンピュータを利用しているものとして、これからどのような可能性があるのか、可能性がないのかを学びたくて購入。通読してみると、コンピューターと神学、両方の知識を持ちっている人向けの書籍になっていると思った。全体を通しては自分には難しいと思えたがパーツパーツでは魅力的な考えが多々記載されたいた。カリグラフィーの価値、数学にとっての自然、宇宙の有限性など非常に魅力を感じた部分も多々ある。とくに、カリグラフィーの役割というのが、平面的な文に対して、芸術という新たなビジュアル的な次元を付加されているものだと学ぶ。ゆえに心打たれるのかな。もっと勉強し、知識をつめこんでから再読したい本だと思った。コンピューターがどこからきて、どこへいくのかのヒントになると思います。

クヌースといえば、TeX位しか知らない(しかも使ったことがない....)状態だったのですが、聖書の研究などもやっていたのですね。敬虔なクリスチャンだということも知りませんでした。「コンピュータ科学者がめったに語らないこと」というタイトルですが、普通の人でもこんな内容は語らないでしょう。信仰告白ですから。クリスチャンではなく、聖書に関する知識もほとんどない私にとっては、前半の聖書に関する部分はかなり退屈なモノでした。でも後半はなかなかおもしろく読めました。当人の研究した超巨大な数(スーパーK)の話をした後で、ちょっと聞き、異端じみたことを言っていたりしてます。

コンピュータ科学のアイコンの一人ドン・クヌースが神と聖書とカリグラフィーついて語った講演会の講演録だ。講演録で文章自体は読みやすいものだが、内容は例によってマニアックで、かなり退屈する。しかも、聖書の話で、仏教徒としては苦しい。いよいよ苦しいところはパラパラになりながら、それでも最後までなんとかたどり着いた。で、読んだ感想は、西洋ではこれだけの数学者でも神が欲しいんだなあ、というものだった。それは、単に超自然的な力を感ずるというよりは、キリスト教の神を欲している。他の宗教の神に言及があっても、キリスト教の神のバリアントぐらいにしか扱われていない。聖書に対して批判的な視点はまったく現れない。面白い部分もなかったわけではないが、アメリカではこんなに頭のいい人でも基本的にはキリスト教原理主義に通じるアティテュードを持っているのかと、暗い読後感を持った。