Hal Abelson, a prominent computer scientist and co-author of the book *”Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs,”* believes that “Computer Science” is a misleading name for the field. His critique stems from the idea that the discipline is not primarily about computers or science in the traditional sense.
1. Not Just About Computers: Abelson argues that the field is more about the principles of computation and the process of creating abstractions to solve problems, rather than the physical machines we call computers. The focus is on the algorithms, languages, and theories that underpin these machines, not the machines themselves.
2. Not a Traditional Science: Unlike fields like physics or chemistry, which involve the study of natural phenomena, computer science is concerned with the creation of artificial systems. It’s more akin to engineering or mathematics, where the goal is to construct models, design systems, and solve problems, rather than to discover natural laws.
Because of these reasons, Abelson suggests that a more accurate name might be something like “Informatics” or “Computational Science,” which better capture the essence of the discipline as the study of computation, information, and the processes that manipulate them.
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