The Logos of Computer Logorrhea

Jere Jones City University of New York ; A. Richard Shriver Honeywell (United States) ; Nicholas Lambesis Honeywell (United States)

Abstract

Cybernetics, the “science” relating the modus operandi of computing machines to man, has fostered a number of myths that cloud the way we talk about computers. And even though these cybernetics myths are not always taken seriously by the philosopher, engineer, or computer programmer, a misleading and imprecise vocabulary of computer logorrhea has evolved which threatens to obscure man's ability to use the electronic computing machine as a tool. This paper represents an inquiry into the roots of several cybernetics-related misconceptions and some of the consequent anthropomorphic nonsense and grammatical falacies which permeate our thinking and our language.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
1975-07-01
DOI
10.2190/9l2k-gwfb-g285-32e3
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
Export

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

References (13)

  1. 10.5962/bhl.title.166289
  2. The New Technology and Human Values
  3. Philosophy and Cybernetics
  4. Brain, Mind and Computers
  5. Man in the Modern Age
Show all 13 →
  1. The Myth of the Machine: Technics and Human Development
  2. Survey of Cybernetics
  3. A History of Western Philosophy
  4. Mind and Machines
  5. 10.7312/taub90714
  6. Mind and Machines
  7. Cybernetics
  8. The Blue and Brown Books