Asharp,witty,mind-expandingandexuberantforayintotheworldoflogicwithcomputerscientistProfessorDaveCliff.Followinginthefootstepsoftheaward-winning'TheJoyofStats'anditssequel,'TailsYouWin-TheScienceofChance',thisfilmtakesviewersonanewrollercoasterridethroughphilosophy,maths,scienceandtechnology-allofwhich,underthebonnet,runonlogic. Wieldingthesamewitandwisdom,animationandgleefulnerderyasitspredecessors,thisfilmjourneysfromAristotletoAliceinWonderland,sci-fitosupercomputerstotellthefascinatingstoryofthequestforcertaintyandthefundamentalsofsoundreasoningitself. DaveCliff,professorofcomputerscienceandengineeringatBristolUniversity,isnoabstracttheoretician.15yearsagohecombinedlogicandabitofmathstowriteoneofthefirstcomputerprogramstooutperformhumansattradingstocksandshares.Givingawaythesoftwareforfree,hesays,wasnothismostlogicalmove... Withthehelpof25seven-year-olds,ProfessorCliffcreates,forthefirsttimeever,acomputermadeentirelyofchildren,runningonnothingbutlogic.Wealsomeettheworld'sbrainiestwhizz-kids,competingattheInternationalOlympiadofInformaticsinBrisbane,Australia. 'TheJoyofLogic'alsohailslogic'sall-timeheroes:GeorgeBoolewhomovedlogicbeyondphilosophytomathematics;BertrandRussell,whotook360+pagesbutheroicallyprovedthat1+1=2;KurtGodel,whobroughtlogictoitskneesbydemonstratingthatsometruthsareunprovable;andAlanTuring,who,withwhatCliffcallsan'almostexquisiteparadox',wasinspiredbythishugesetbacktologictoconceivethecomputer. Ultimately,thefilmasks,canhumansreallystayahead?Couldtoday'sgenerationoflogicalcomputingmachinesbesmarterthanus?Whatdoesthattellusaboutourownbrains,andjusthow'logical'wereallyare...?
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