In Our Time Alan Turing
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Oct 15, 2020 Leslie Ann Goldberg, a Professor of Computer Science at Oxford, discusses Turing's revolutionary contributions to the field. Simon Schaffer, a History of Science expert from Cambridge, provides context for Turing's life during the repressive social climate of his time. Andrew Hodges, Turing's biographer, shares intimate insights into Turing's struggles and genius. The conversation weaves through Turing’s groundbreaking ideas, including the Turing Test for AI, and highlights his tragic legacy and influence on computing, culminating in his recognition on the new £50 note.
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Turing's Early Life
- Alan Turing's early life was shaped by the British Empire, with his parents governing India during his childhood.
- Despite early academic struggles, a gift of Einstein's relativity theory sparked his scientific interest, leading him to Cambridge.
Mathematical Landscape of Turing's Time
- The 1920s and 30s were a dynamic period in mathematics, with Hilbert's program seeking a logical foundation for the field.
- Gödel's incompleteness theorem challenged Hilbert's vision, showing that consistent axioms would still have unprovable true statements.
Turing's Literal Approach
- Turing's approach to the Entscheidungsproblem was notable for its literal interpretation of a 'mechanical process'.
- This led him to define a machine that could perform mathematics, demonstrating that any human computation could be done by a machine.