Book Review: Artificial Life: A Report From The Frontier Where Computers Meet Biology

Author: Steven Levy
Spiritual Bias: Unknown
Origins Bias: Appears to be an evolutionist
Rating: Middle of the Road
Level: Intermediate

Comments: Want an appreciation for the complexity of life? Try this book. The sub field of computer science (dear to my heart) that has given people an appreciation for life is Artificial Intelligence. By trying to simulate life on a computer screen or in the form of a robot we have been forced to appreciate the details that are involved in doing we what consider to be routine tasks (i.e.. seeing, walking, etc). This book also discusses von Neumann's work and is well worth your money and time.

Summary Quote: The boldest practitioners of this science engage in "strong" a-life. They look towards the long-term development of actual living organisms whose essence is information. These creatures may be embodied in corporeal form- a-life robots- or they may live within a computer. Whichever, these creations, as Farmer insisted, are intended to be "alive under every reasonable definition of the word"- as much as bacteria, plants, animals, and human beings."