The Philosophical Computer

Philosophical modeling is as old as philosophy itself; examples range from Plato'sCave and the Divided Line to Rawls's original position. What is new are the astounding computationalresources now available for philosophical modeling. Although the computer cannot offer a substitutefor philosophical research, it can offer an important new environment for philosophicalresearch.

The authors present a series of exploratory examples of computermodeling, using a range of computational techniques to illuminate a variety of questions inphilosophy and philosophical logic. Topics include self-reference and paradox in fuzzy logics,varieties of epistemic chaos, fractal images of formal systems, and cellular automata models in gametheory. Examples in the last category include models for the evolution of generosity, possiblecauses and cures for discrimination, and the formal undecidability of patterns of social andbiological interaction.

The cross-platform CD-ROM provided with the book containsa variety of working examples, in color and often operating dynamically, embedded in a text thatparallels that of the book. Source code of all major programs is included to facilitate furtherresearch.