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#Post#: 101--------------------------------------------------
Split Programs
DIR By: CaseyEnos
Date: August 3, 2012, 6:55 pm
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Hey, is anyone out there taking any of the mixed "Philosophy
with another subject" programs? I am specifically interested in
the BA Philosophy with Computer Science one, since I am
developing a keen interest in AI; I am going to miss a year of
exams in 2013 but was thinking of transferring to that program
upon returning from the 'Stan. If anyone is in that program, or
by chance have a background in computer science and know
anything about the program, I'd be interested in your comments.
I am especially wondering if you are expected to be able to
program already upon entering the program...I sent off for a
prospectus, since, ironically enough, I couldn't get the
web-based one to open, but it will take a while for it to get
here from across the pond...
#Post#: 106--------------------------------------------------
Re: Split Programs
DIR By: waveletter
Date: August 5, 2012, 10:04 pm
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Hi Casey:
I have a couple of advanced degrees in CS, but they're from a
regular university, not any online program. I can't offer too
much specific advice about UoL's external CS degree.
For a BA or BS in CS, you are not expected to be able to write
code or know much of anything about computers. If you can get on
the web and use some basic documentation tools, like Microsoft
Office, or some Linux-based tools for the same, you are ahead of
the game. Most universities, and I would assume UoL as well,
base their instruction on UNIX (e.g. Linux), because it's free.
If you wanted to work ahead a little, you could pick up one of
the PC-based Linux products, install the OS on your PC (you
might have to partition the disk with a tool like Norton
Partition Magic), boot up Linux, and begin to get familiar with
the command, scripting, and programming environment. But, they
will make you go through that in the university program, usually
in an introductory course called Introduction to Computer
Science or the like. You'll need to get an introductory book on
UNIX.
You could also work with the Microsoft world, but you'd have to
pay a little more for their programming product suite, which is
called Visual Studio. You might be able to get a M/S student
version of Visual Studio for a lot less. Generally, they want to
see a registration card (would the UoL Philosophy card work?
Hmm...), or you have to buy it at a student store on campus.
You'll need to get an introductory book on Visual Studio C++ or
C# programming. The one by Ivar Horton is good.
You can also download a PC scripting language, Python, for free.
There are online tutorials for it, too, like Dive Into Python.
This is a quite powerful programming tool, but you probably
won't be learning it right away at the university.
There are a number of theoretical courses in the BSCS program,
and in some schools the practical programming aspects are
downplayed. My nephew just graduated from the Univ of Wyoming
with a BSCS, and I was astounded at how little practical
programming the kid had learned. Still, he landed a high-paying
job with company in San Diego, CA, and they are giving him a
thorough training in database software.
Hope this helps. Any other questions, just post them here. Uh,
and try to keep away from any potentially harmful situations
when you're over there. --Ron
#Post#: 108--------------------------------------------------
Re: Split Programs
DIR By: CaseyEnos
Date: August 7, 2012, 8:35 pm
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Thanks for the advice!
Its the aspect of AI as a way of examining philosophy of mind
that I am really interested, the exact UofL program I am looking
at is called "cognitive computing" or something like that. For
some reason almost all AI programming is done in a language
called LISP, which runs with LINUX, so guess that is where I
need to start looking.
Thanks again. If I do learn anything about programming I will go
back to UofL and fix their student portal...
#Post#: 109--------------------------------------------------
Re: Split Programs
DIR By: waveletter
Date: August 7, 2012, 9:59 pm
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LISP is a specialized string processing language, and, you are
right, it originated in AI programming. It used to be that AI
folks used LISP exclusively, but now, because of its strengths
for general systems programming as well, a lot of AI engineers
program in C++. Just as an example, in my previous job we worked
with an AI start-up here in the Bay Area (northern Calif.) that
had a generalized artificial intelligence tool that mimicked the
way the brain processes visual and auditory information. They
programmed in C++. Now, that being said, they had to implement a
lot of the search tree methods that LISP does naturally using
C++ tools of their own design, but that's what they were doing.
They could replicate the functionality of LISP in C++, and they
could use C++ for its own expressive power in coding up the
image and signal processing algorithms that they need for the
"front end" of their product.
I would suggest C or C++ (better) as a starting point into
actual programming. LISP could come later, if it turns out you
need it. And you might not, as things stand today.
Right. There is an area of intersection between computer science
and philosophy, cognitive science. It tends to sample stuff from
all kinds of disciplines: psychology, philosophy, computer
science, biology, electrical engineering (sensing), and even
mechanical engineering (robotics, haptics (grasping things),
balance, and optimal control). Just my 2 cents. --Ron P.S. I'm
reading through your sample answers. Nice work. If I can see a
difference, it seems to me like you have followed a selective
line of thought, and developed the arguments around that line,
whereas I have tended to survey things.
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