Gödel, Escher, Bach
About this book
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize A metaphorical fugue on minds and machines in the spirit of Lewis Carroll Douglas Hofstadter's book is concerned directly with the nature of "maps" or links between formal systems. However, according to Hofstadter, the formal system that underlies all mental activity transcends the system that supports it. If life can grow out of the formal chemical substrate of the cell, if consciousness can emerge out of a formal system of firing neurons, then so too will computers attain human intelligence. Gödel, Escher, Bach is a wonderful exploration of fascinating ideas at the heart of cognitive science: meaning, reduction, recursion, and much more.
Reader Profile
4.3/5 · 227 readers · 777 pages · ≈ 14 h 23 m · Challenging
How long does it take to read Gödel, Escher, Bach?
About ≈ 14 h 23 m — 777 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is Gödel, Escher, Bach?
777 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is Gödel, Escher, Bach?
It sits on the Philosophy shelves.
Is Gödel, Escher, Bach in the public domain?
No — it is still under copyright.
Who are the main characters in Gödel, Escher, Bach?
The main characters include Kurt Gödel (1906-1978), M. C. Escher (1898-1972), Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
Who wrote Gödel, Escher, Bach?
Douglas R. Hofstadter.