Title
God and Golem, Inc.: A Comment on Certain Points where Cybernetics Impinges on Religion,Used
Processing time: 1-3 days
US Orders Ships in: 3-5 days
International Orders Ships in: 8-12 days
Return Policy: 15-days return on defective items
Payment Option
The new and rapidly growing field of communication sciences owes as much to Norbert Wiener as to any one man. He coined the word for itcybernetics. In God & Golem, Inc., the author concerned himself with major points in cybernetics which are relevant to religious issues.The first point he considers is that of the machine which learns. While learning is a property almost exclusively ascribed to the selfconscious living system, a computer now exists which not only can be programmed to play a game of checkers, but one which can 'learn' from its past experience and improve on its own game. For a time, the machine was able to beat its inventor at checkers. 'It did win,' writes the author, 'and it did learn to win; and the method of its learning was no different in principle from that of the human being who learns to play checkers.A second point concerns machines which have the capacity to reproduce themselves. It is our commonly held belief that God made man in his own image. The propagation of the race may also be interpreted as a function in which one living being makes another in its own image. But the author demonstrates that man has made machines which are 'very well able to make other machines in their own image,' and these machine images are not merely pictorial representations but operative images. Can we then say: God is to Golem as man is to Machines? in Jewish legend, golem is an embryo Adam, shapeless and not fully created, hence a monster, an automation.The third point considered is that of the relation between man and machine. The concern here is ethical. 'render unto man the things which are man's and unto the computer the things which are the computer's,' warns the author. In this section of the book, Dr. Wiener considers systems involving elements of man and machine. The book is written for the intellectually alert public and does not involve any highly technical knowledge. It is based on lectures given at Yale, at the Socit Philosophique de Royaumont, and elsewhere.
⚠️ WARNING (California Proposition 65):
This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main theme of 'God and Golem, Inc.'? A: The main theme explores the intersections of cybernetics and religion, particularly how machines that learn and reproduce challenge traditional notions of creation and ethics.
- Q: Who is the author of 'God and Golem, Inc.'? A: The book is authored by Norbert Wiener, who is credited with founding the field of cybernetics.
- Q: What is the publication date of this book? A: 'God and Golem, Inc.' was published on March 15, 1966.
- Q: Is this book suitable for individuals without a technical background? A: Yes, the book is written for the intellectually curious public and does not require highly technical knowledge.
- Q: What type of binding does this edition have? A: This edition of 'God and Golem, Inc.' is available in paperback binding.
- Q: How many pages does 'God and Golem, Inc.' have? A: The book has a total of 99 pages.
- Q: What edition is this book? A: This is the 7th edition of 'God and Golem, Inc.'.
- Q: What are some key topics discussed in the book? A: Key topics include the learning capabilities of machines, self-reproduction of machines, and the ethical implications of man-machine relationships.
- Q: Is 'God and Golem, Inc.' based on lectures? A: Yes, the book is based on lectures delivered by Norbert Wiener at various institutions, including Yale.
- Q: What category does this book fall under? A: 'God and Golem, Inc.' is categorized under Cybernetics.