I'm thinking of ditching computer science (as a major, at least) and creating my own field of study, which I'm calling "iHum" for now. The "i" is intentionally cliché, and I intend it to stand for "information" and "inter-disciplinary" although it's also supposed to invoke a sense of modernity and technology.
I got the idea after finding out that there's a program here called "inter-disciplinary studies in humanities", which is basically a fancy way to say "roll your own major". The requirement includes 6 courses in a major field, 4 in a supporting field, 3 in a minor field, and a final senior thesis to rule... er, combine them all. Basically, this is the closest thing yet that will allow me to do what I want to do: to study programming.
You see, computer science and programming are two different things. Saying "CS = programming" is like saying "English = Writing". I think that's what's been bothering me the whole time. I love programming, but I could care less about computers and machines. Or maybe it would help to put it this way: I'm a humanist stuck in the body of a technologist. So what exactly does "studying programming" mean, if not comp sci as we know it? Maybe it would help to throw out some potential questions and topics:
- If language and thought are intertwined, how do programming languages affect the human thought process?
- Programming languages can be seen as a medium to codify logical thought unambiguously. What other potential uses are there?
- Programming involves a thought process that is logical, iterative, recursive, reflective and creative. How does it compare to philosophical thought?
- If power and language are related, what power dynamics exist in relation to programming? Do programmers have power over non-programmers?
- How does the aquisition of programming languages compare to the aquisition of natural languages? Are there parallels? Can anything be learned from studying one or the other?
- How do artificial languages expand and/or limit our expressive capabilities?
- How does the development of programming compare to the history of literacy? What correlations can be drawn?
Posted Thu, November 13, 2003 19:02 by
Sorry, Apple has trademarked adding a i to front of things. Also, e is pretty much used up as well. I suggest a slightly less trendy letter such as w or j.
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