Contributed by
"William E. Emba"
"Alfven, the Swedish physicist and astrophysicist who was
awarded the Nobel prize for his development of plasma physics
and magnetohydrodynamics (but is perhaps better remembered
for his anti-Big-Bang plasma cosmology), wrote a far-sighted
satiric fable about the alleged wonders of computer technology.
In addition, he mocked government bureaucracy and big business.
Two pages are devoted to the division of labor computers bring
to mathematics. Humans concentrate on formulating conjectures,
and machines to proving or refuting them." |