From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 X-Spam-Checker-Version: SpamAssassin 3.4.2 (2018-09-13) on inbox.vuxu.org X-Spam-Level: X-Spam-Status: No, score=0.3 required=5.0 tests=MAILING_LIST_MULTI, RCVD_IN_DNSWL_NONE,RDNS_NONE,SPF_PASS autolearn=no autolearn_force=no version=3.4.2 Received: (qmail 2194 invoked from network); 21 Mar 2020 01:12:23 -0000 Received-SPF: pass (minnie.tuhs.org: domain of minnie.tuhs.org designates 45.79.103.53 as permitted sender) receiver=inbox.vuxu.org; client-ip=45.79.103.53 envelope-from= Received: from unknown (HELO minnie.tuhs.org) (45.79.103.53) by inbox.vuxu.org with ESMTP; 21 Mar 2020 01:12:23 -0000 Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 052919D5B7; Sat, 21 Mar 2020 11:12:20 +1000 (AEST) Received: from minnie.tuhs.org (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 5D0B79D529; Sat, 21 Mar 2020 11:12:08 +1000 (AEST) Received: by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix, from userid 112) id 7D3F09D529; Sat, 21 Mar 2020 11:12:06 +1000 (AEST) Received: from mercury.lcs.mit.edu (mercury.lcs.mit.edu [18.26.0.122]) by minnie.tuhs.org (Postfix) with ESMTPS id 1EA2A9CD87 for ; Sat, 21 Mar 2020 11:12:06 +1000 (AEST) Received: by mercury.lcs.mit.edu (Postfix, from userid 11178) id 3B0D318C073; Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:12:05 -0400 (EDT) To: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org Message-Id: <20200321011205.3B0D318C073@mercury.lcs.mit.edu> Date: Fri, 20 Mar 2020 21:12:05 -0400 (EDT) From: jnc@mercury.lcs.mit.edu (Noel Chiappa) Subject: Re: [TUHS] The most surprising Unix programs X-BeenThere: tuhs@minnie.tuhs.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.26 Precedence: list List-Id: The Unix Heritage Society mailing list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Cc: jnc@mercury.lcs.mit.edu Errors-To: tuhs-bounces@minnie.tuhs.org Sender: "TUHS" > From: Dagobert Michelsen > the excellent book "G=C3=B6del, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid" > from Douglas R. Hofstadter which also gives a nice introduction into > logic and philosopy. IIRC, the focus of the book is how systems made out of simple components can exhibit complex behaviours; in particular, how information-processing systems can come to develop self-awareness. > From: Chet Ramey > One of the best books I read in high school. A book on a very similar topic to GEB, which was _extremely_ important in developing my understanding of how the universe came to be, is "Recursive Universe", by William Poundstone, which I recommend very highly to everyone here. It's still in print, which is really good, because it's not as well known as it should (IMO) be. It uses an analogy with Conway's Life to explain how the large-scale structure of the universe can develop from a random initial state. Buy it now! Noel