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			 A Rationale for EECS 129


In the past, there have been several examples of individuals who have been
able to present  complex ideas  in a  broad setting  that illuminates  the
kernel ideas while not diminishing their intellectual rigor.

Robert Pirsig, in "Zen  and the Art of  Motorcycle Maintenance", used  the
medium of a novel to present and discuss deep philosophical issues.

Douglas Hofstadter's  Pulitzer  Prize winning  non-fiction  work,  "Godel,
Escher, Bach", made deep  results in mathematics  and logic accessible  to
people who had no prior inkling of the elegance and beauty of mathematics.

I have designed EECS129 with the  same goal, here to expose the  essential
beauty of  mathematics,  logic,  computation,  and  philosophy  using  the
vehicle of interactive computing and personal computers.

In this course
 (1) we use "Zen" to set the tone: the philosophical relationship between 
      art and science;

 (2) we use parts of "Godel, Escher, Bach" to discuss some ideas in Truth, 
      Deduction, and Computation.

 (3) we use "Mindstorms" as an overview of how personal computing can supply 
      a non-threatening but educational tool. The language of "Mindstorms"
      --LOGO-- is no toy; it is the basis of the current program  at MIT to 
      revise their undergraduate  mathematics and  physics curricula.

 (4) we dip into the arts and sciences for perspectives on the computing 
      phenomenon, and finally,

 (5) the technical substance underlying this discussion is based on my 
      background in theoretical and practical mathematics and computer science. 
      We build from LOGO to a LISP-like language that is adequate to expose 
      the computational ideas that implement the LOGO graphics. These ideas 
      are at the heart of the notion "object-oriented" --the notion on which 
      Intel based their iapx 432 processor. The move from LOGO to the 432 is
      a simple one; one that we will exercise in 129. A detailed outline of 
      the course is attached, as is my resume.

I believe that  the outline  and my resume  will relieve  any doubts  that
EECS129 is  a  "throw-away"  course.   I expect  high  standards  in  both
philosophical and technical performance; and we will deal heavily in  both
issues. Those  who complete  this  course will  have an  understanding  of
fundamental computing ideas that will outlive transient technology.