The Cambridge Quintet: A Work of Scientific Speculation

This is a speculative science writing of the best quality. This discusses the issues of machine intelligence among five seminal thinkers as they talk to each other at a Cambridge university dinner party. A primer reading on machine intelligence.

I confess a weakness for this kind of format, a fictional situation in which historical figures meet around a table and argue their various points of view face-to face. This short book is an especially nice example of the genre, with the protagonists meeting around the dinner table in Cambridge on a stormy English night in 1949. It recalls a certain variety of detective story, and in a way that's what it is. But the essential mystery, what it means to be a thinking human being, is not finally solved. Many of the key issues connected with language, thought, and the possibilities for machine intelligence are touched on in these conversations, giving the reader a good sense of the kinds of philosophical and technical questions that remain unresolved even today. The mode of presentation is probably about as entertaining a one as possible for an introduction to this kind of material. At a minimum, I think your reaction to the book will tell you whether you have enough interest in the subject matter to pursue it much further. But even if you don't, you will have encountered a great many stimulating ideas in these pages. And you will know enough not to have to sit there like a stupid lump should the subject of AI (Artificial Intelligence) come up in conversation. The book does not go as far as some reviewers would have liked, but I think it nicely does the introductory overview job it set out to do. My only quibble is that while Chomsky's later ideas about language are presented (Casti admits the anachronism as a way to get certain ideas into the conversation), behavioral psychology is not given the benefit of a similar updating. Skinner's work on verbal behavior was quite sophisticated, much akin to the view here put forth by Wittgenstein, and far from the old Watsonian stimulus-response version of behaviorism used as a foil in the book. That was a difference, by the way, that Chomsky never managed to comprehend.

In this book, John Casti, who in my opinion may well turn out to be one of the foremost science writers of all time, weaves a tale about an extraordinary meeting...that never took place, but could well have. Five outstanding intellectuals-C.P.Snow: Physicist, Erwin Schrodinger: Physicist, J B S Haldane: Biologist, Ludwig Wittgenstein: Philosopher and Alan Turing: Mathematician-meet for dinner at Cambridge University's Christ College in Snow's rooms, at his request, for profound discussion about a topic that could change the future of humanity forever. The topic: Artificial Intelligence. Can machines think? During the intense discussion that follows, we get to read about a tour de force presented by Casti, just like it would be, had such a meeting actually taken place. As these great minds argue back and forth about this central question, we are transformed to post war England, and the beginnings of modern day computer science. Almost everything they talk about had, or will have far reaching consequences. Some of the idea Turing talks about, such as algorithms, are so commonplace in the modern world, that we take them absolutely for granted. Other related questions, such as the origin and structure of language and its relation to computational processes, are still profound unsolved questions. Casti makes everything sound extremely realistic, and does a great job at it. His choice of characters for this debate is superb, and one which cannot easily be imagined, but which in hindsight is perfect. His portraying of their personalities is impeccable, and represents the diverse backgrounds which each of them brings to the dinner table. His language is brilliant,and so is the humour. What about the conclusion? There can be none for such a complex problem. But the knowledge which one gains in such enterprises is priceless. Forget about Bill Gates, George Bush, and Saddam Hussein (although they DO make a difference!). Gentlemen such as these are the real movers and shakers of the world, although few may hear of them ,for they toil as little known geniuses. We should be indebted to writers like John Casti, for telling us their story. Thank you, John!

Mr. Casti has crafted a wonderful book for readers, and not just those whose interest lay in Scientific "what if" scenarios. His topic is Artificial Intelligence and the probability it will become reality. The specific question is "Can we build a machine that could duplicate human cognitive processes?" The host for the evening is C.P. Snow, and his guests for dinner and debate are physicist Erwin Schrodinger, wave mechanics inventor, Ludwig Wittgenstein, 20th Century philosopher of language, geneticist J.B.S. Haldane, and finally Alan Turing, Mathematician and Father of modern computing.Keep reading! You do not need to be a student of any of these fields or know who these men are, prior to embarking on this hypothetical snowy evening in Cambridge. And that is the genius of this book, or perhaps one element of it. For not only does Mr. Costi pick a topic that is still as relevant a debate today as it "was" in 1949, he makes the debates readable, and he introduces people who are as important, or even more critical than the names we attach to computers today.The true genius is of course Mr. Costi, for not only does he posit the question, he selects great minds, and then uses his own to create a dialogue that demonstrates his vast knowledge of these men and their fields. Finally he places his creation in front of readers, not a select group, rather for anyone who is inquisitive. Winston Churchill asked a guest at his home one night to explain the "Theory Of Relativity" in one minute using words with only one syllable. His guest Frederick Lindemann proceeded to do just that. Mr. Costi uses words that violate the singular syllable rule, and if anyone could speed read the book in 60 seconds their effort would be pointless.History can be boring or Martin Gilbert, Daniel J. Boorstin, Amanda Foreman, or Ron Chernow to name just a few can write it. The same can be said of science or the Law. The subjects can be cloaked in mystery not because they are complex, rather the skill to communicate what they are, is difficult for many, impossible for most, and fortunately for readers there are a few greater minds/communicators who can open these portals of knowledge.The Hubble Telescope documents phenomena that are visually awe-inspiring. But until a Dr. Hawkings brings some meaning to them, they are just pretty pictures, images that show space in unimaginable dimensions, and objects that defy all commonly held thought.Great book, great read, highly recommended!

This book will delight those already acquainted with Wittgenstein and Turing's perspectives. Easy to read, written in a very enjoyable style by John Casti (whom "Paradigms lost" constitute the masterpiece in my view), it nonetheless describes in a very sharp way the main arguments on both sides of the debate. Maybe too weak in the conclusion.