逻辑的乐趣

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...?