Subject Index (from "Software and Mind")

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Sof twareandMind

SOFTWAREANDMINDAndrei Sorin

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Index

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and the index.

Copyright 2013Andrei Sorin

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SOFTWAREAND

MIND

The Mechanistic Myth

and Its Consequences

Andrei Sorin

ANDSOR BOOKS


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Copyright 2013Andrei SorinPublished by Andsor Books, Toronto, Canada (January 2013)

www.andsorbooks.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system,or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.However, excerpts totaling up to 300words may be used for quotations or similar functionswithout specific permission.

For disclaimers see pp. vii, xvxvi.

Designed and typeset by the author with text management software developed by the authorand with Adobe FrameMaker 6.0. Printed and bound in the United States of America.

Acknowledgements

Excerpts from the works of Karl Popper: reprinted by permission of the University ofKlagenfurt/Karl Popper Library.

Excerpts from The Origins of Totalitarian Democracyby J. L. Talmon: published bySecker & Warburg, reprinted by permission of The Random House Group Ltd.

Excerpts from Nineteen Eighty-Fourby George Orwell: Copyright 1949George Orwell,reprinted by permission of Bill Hamilton as the Literary Executor of the Estate of the LateSonia Brownell Orwell and Secker & Warburg Ltd.; Copyright

1949Harcourt, Inc. and

renewed 1977by Sonia Brownell Orwell, reprinted by permission of Houghton MifflinHarcourt Publishing Company.

Excerpts from The Collected Essays, Journalism and Letters of George Orwell: Copyright1968Sonia Brownell Orwell, reprinted by permission of Bill Hamilton as the LiteraryExecutor of the Estate of the Late Sonia Brownell Orwell and Secker & Warburg Ltd.;Copyright 1968Sonia Brownell Orwell and renewed 1996by Mark Hamilton, reprintedby permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Excerpts from Doublespeakby William Lutz: Copyright 1989William Lutz, reprintedby permission of the author in care of the Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency.

Excerpts from Four Essays on Libertyby Isaiah Berlin: Copyright 1969Isaiah Berlin,reprinted by permission of Curtis Brown Group Ltd., London, on behalf of the Estate ofIsaiah Berlin.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Sorin, AndreiSoftware and mind : the mechanistic myth and its consequences / Andrei Sorin.

Includes index.ISBN 978-0-9869389-0-0

1. Computers and civilization. 2. Computer software Social aspects.3. Computer software Philosophy. I. Title.

QA76.9.C66S67 2013 303.48'34 C2012-906666-4

Printed on acid-free paper.


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Dont you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow

the range of thought?... Has it ever occurred to you ... thatby the year 2050, at the very latest, not a single human beingwill be alive who could understand such a conversation as weare having now?

George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four


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Disclaimer

Disclaimer

This book attacks the mechanistic myth, not persons. Myths, however, manifestthemselves through the acts of persons, so it is impossible to discuss themechanistic myth without also referring to the persons affected by it. Thus, allreferences to individuals, groups of individuals, corporations, institutions, orother organizations are intended solely as examples of mechanistic beliefs,ideas, claims, or practices. To repeat, they do not constitute an attack on thoseindividuals or organizations, but on the mechanistic myth.

Except where supported with citations, the discussions in this book reflectthe authors personal views, and the author does not claim or suggest thatanyone else holds these views.

The arguments advanced in this book are founded, ultimately, on theprinciples of demarcation between science and pseudoscience developedby Karl Popper (as explained in Poppers Principles of Demarcation inchapter 3). In particular, the author maintains that theories which attempt toexplain non-mechanistic phenomena mechanistically are pseudoscientific.Consequently, terms like ignorance, incompetence, dishonesty, fraud,

corruption, charlatanism, and irresponsibility, in reference to individuals,groups of individuals, corporations, institutions, or other organizations, areused in a precise, technical sense; namely, to indicate beliefs, ideas, claims, orpractices that are mechanistic though applied to non-mechanistic phenomena,and hence pseudoscientific according to Poppers principles of demarcation. Inother words, these derogatory terms are used solely in order to contrast ourworld to a hypothetical, ideal world, where the mechanistic myth and thepseudoscientific notions it engenders would not exist. The meaning of theseterms, therefore, must not be confused with their informal meaning in generaldiscourse, nor with their formal meaning in various moral, professional, orlegal definitions. Moreover, the use of these terms expresses strictly thepersonal opinion of the author an opinion based, as already stated, on theprinciples of demarcation.

This book aims to expose the corruptive effect of the mechanistic myth.This myth, especially as manifested through our software-related pursuits, isthe greatest danger we are facing today. Thus, no criticism can be too strong.However, since we are all affected by it, a criticism of the myth may cast a

negative light on many individuals and organizations who are practising itunwittingly. To them, the author wishes to apologize in advance.

vii


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Contents

Contents

Preface xiii

Introduction Belief and Software 1Modern Myths 2The Mechanistic Myth 8The Software Myth 26Anthropology and Software 42

Software Magic 42

Software Power 57

Chapter 1 Mechanism and Mechanistic Delusions 68The Mechanistic Philosophy 68Reductionism and Atomism 73Simple Structures 92Complex Structures 98Abstraction and Reification 113Scientism 127

Chapter 2 The Mind 142Mind Mechanism 143Models of Mind 147

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Tacit Knowledge 157Creativity 172

Replacing Minds with Software 190Chapter 3 Pseudoscience 202

The Problem of Pseudoscience 203Poppers Principles of Demarcation 208The New Pseudosciences 233

The Mechanistic Roots 233Behaviourism 235Structuralism 242Universal Grammar 251

Consequences 273Academic Corruption 273The Traditional Theories 277The Software Theories 286

Chapter 4 Language and Software 298The Common Fallacies 299The Search for the Perfect Language 306Wittgenstein and Software 328

Software Structures 347

Chapter 5 Language as Weapon 368Mechanistic Communication 368The Practice of Deceit 371The Slogan Technology 385Orwells Newspeak 398

Chapter 6 Software as Weapon 408A New Form of Domination 409

The Risks of Software Dependence 409The Prevention of Expertise 413The Lure of Software Expedients 421

Software Charlatanism 440The Delusion of High Levels 440The Delusion of Methodologies 470

The Spread of Software Mechanism 483

Chapter 7 Software Engineering 492

Introduction 492The Fallacy of Software Engineering 494Software Engineering as Pseudoscience 508

x contents


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Structured Programming 515The Theory 517

The Promise 529The Contradictions 537The First Delusion 550The Second Delusion 552The Third Delusion 562The Fourth Delusion 580The GOTODelusion 600The Legacy 625

Object-Oriented Programming 628

The Quest for Higher Levels 628The Promise 630The Theory 636The Contradictions 640The First Delusion 651The Second Delusion 653The Third Delusion 655The Fourth Delusion 657The Fifth Delusion 662

The Final Degradation 669The Relational Database Model 676The Promise 677The Basic File Operations 686The Lost Integration 701The Theory 707The Contradictions 721The First Delusion 728The Second Delusion 742

The Third Delusion 783The Verdict 815

Chapter 8 From Mechanism to Totalitarianism 818The End of Responsibility 818

Software Irresponsibility 818Determinism versus Responsibility 823

Totalitarian Democracy 843The Totalitarian Elites 843Talmons Model of Totalitarianism 848

Orwells Model of Totalitarianism 858Software Totalitarianism 866

Index 877

contents xi


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Pref ace

Preface

The books subtitle, The Mechanistic Myth and Its Consequences, captures itsessence. This phrase is deliberately ambiguous: if read in conjunction with thetitle, it can be interpreted in two ways. In one interpretation, the mechanisticmyth is the universal mechanistic belief of the last three centuries, and theconsequences are todays software fallacies. In the second interpretation,the mechanistic myth is specifically todays mechanistic softwaremyth, and theconsequences are the fallacies itengenders. Thus, the first interpretationsays that the past delusions have caused the current software delusions; and

the second one says that the current software delusions are causing furtherdelusions. Taken together, the two interpretations say that the mechanisticmyth, with its current manifestation in the software myth, is fostering a processof continuous intellectual degradation despite the great advances it madepossible. This process started three centuries ago, is increasingly corrupting us,and may well destroy us in the future. The book discusses all stages of thisdegradation.

The books epigraph, about Newspeak, will become clear when we discussthe similarity of language and software (see, for example, pp. 411413).

Throughout the book, the software-related arguments are also supportedwith ideas from other disciplines from philosophy, in particular. These dis-cussions are important, because they show that our software-related problems

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are similar, ultimately, to problems that have been studied for a long time inother domains. And the fact that the software theorists are ignoring this

accumulated knowledge demonstrates their incompetence. Often, the connec-tion between the traditional issues and the software issues is immediatelyapparent; but sometimes its full extent can be appreciated only in the followingsections or chapters. If tempted to skip these discussions, remember that oursoftware delusions can be recognized only when investigating the softwarepractices from this broader perspective.

Chapter 7, on software engineering, is not just for programmers. Many parts(the first three sections, and some of the subsections in each theory) discuss thesoftware fallacies in general, and should be read by everyone. But even the

more detailed discussions require no previous programming knowledge.The whole chapter, in fact, is not so much about programming as about thedelusions that pervade our programming practices. So this chapter can be seenas a special introduction to software and programming; namely, comparingtheir true nature with the pseudoscientific notions promoted by the softwareelite. This study can help both programmers and laymen to understandwhy the incompetence that characterizes this profession is an inevitableconsequence of the mechanistic software ideology.

There is some repetitiveness in the book, deliberately introduced in order

to make the individual chapters, and even the individual sections, reasonablyindependent. Thus, while the book is intended to be read from the beginning,you can select almost any portion and still follow the discussion. An additionalbenefit of the repetitions is that they help to explain the more complex issues,by presenting the same ideas from different perspectives or in differentcontexts.

The book is divided into chapters, the chapters into sections, and somesections into subsections. These parts have titles, so I will refer to them here astitledparts. Since not all sections have subsections, the lowest-level titled part

in a given place may be either a section or a subsection. This part is, usually,further divided into numberedparts. The table of contents shows the titledparts. The running heads show the current titled parts: on the right page thelowest-level part, on the left page the higher-level one (or the same as the rightpage if there is no higher level). Since there are more than two hundrednumbered parts, it was impractical to include them in the table of contents.Also, contriving a short title for each one would have been more misleadingthan informative. Instead, the first sentence or two in a numbered part servealso as a hint of its subject, and hence as title.

Figures are numbered within chapters, but footnotes are numbered withinthe lowest-level titled parts. The reference in a footnote is shown in full onlythe first time it is mentioned within such a part. If mentioned more than once,

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in the subsequent footnotes it is usually abbreviated. For these abbreviations,then, the full reference can be found by searching the previous footnotes no

further back than the beginning of the current titled part.The statement italics added in a footnote indicates that the emphasis isonly in the quotation. Nothing is stated in the footnote when the italics arepresent in the original text.

In an Internet reference, only the sites main page is shown, even when thequoted text is from a secondary page. When undated, the quotations reflect thecontent of these pages in 2010or later.

When referring to certain individuals (software theorists, for instance), theterm expert is often used mockingly. This term, though, is also used in its

normal sense, to denote the possession of true expertise. The context makes itclear which sense is meant.

The term elite is used to describe a body of companies, organizations,and individuals (for example, the software elite); and the plural, elites,is used when referring to several entities, or groups of entities, within such abody. Thus, although both forms refer to the same entities, the singular isemployed when it is important to stress the existence of the whole body, andthe plural when it is the existence of the individual entities that must bestressed. The plural is also employed, occasionally, in its normal sense a group

of several different bodies. Again, the meaning is clear from the context.The issues discussed in this book concern all humanity. Thus, terms like

we and our society (used when discussing such topics as programmingincompetence, corruption of the elites, and drift toward totalitarianism) do notrefer to a particular nation, but to the whole world.

Some discussions in this book may be interpreted as professional advice onprogramming and software use. While the ideas advanced in these discussionsderive from many years of practice and from extensive research, and representin the authors view the best way to program and use computers, readers must

remember that they assume all responsibility if deciding to follow these ideas.In particular, to apply these ideas they may need the kind of knowledge that,in our mechanistic culture, few programmers and software users possess.Therefore, the author and the publisher disclaim any liability for risks or losses,personal, financial, or other, incurred directly or indirectly in connection with,or as a consequence of, applying the ideas discussed in this book.

The pronouns he, his, him, and himself , when referring to a gender-neutral word, are used in this book in their universal, gender-neutral sense.(Example: If an individual restricts himself to mechanistic knowledge, hisperformance cannot advance past the level of a novice.) This usage, then, aimssolely to simplify the language. Since their antecedent is gender-neutral(everyone, person, programmer, scientist, manager, etc.), the neutral

preface xv


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sense of the pronouns is established grammatically, and there is no need forawkward phrases like he or she. Such phrases are used in this book only when

the neutrality or the universality needs to be emphasized.It is impossible, in a book discussing many new and perhaps difficultconcepts, to anticipate all the problems that readers may face when studyingthese concepts. So the issues that require further discussion will be addressedonline, at www.softwareandmind.com. In addition, I plan to publish therematerial that could not be included in the book, as well as new ideas that mayemerge in the future. Finally, in order to complement the arguments abouttraditional programming found in the book, I plan to publish, in source form,some of the software applications I developed over the years. The website,

then, must be seen as an extension to the book: any idea, claim, or explanationthat must be clarified or enhanced will be discussed there.

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Index

Index

A

abbreviations, seeacronymsabstract terms, used without a definition 58,

3745, 3768, 384abstraction

benefits of 96in classification systems 95, 114, 6367, 6512definition of 95, 6367examples of 956

as general programming concept 66970in hierarchical structures 956, 6367, 6512levels of, seelevelsin object-oriented programming 6367,

657, 66970in the relational model 682, 683, 703, 706,

718, 723, 788, 800in structured programming 525, 531, 592, 613

abstraction, fallacy ofcausing loss of alternatives 97, 11316, 290consequences of 978, 11415definition of 967, 113

and the elites 114, 11516examples of 97, 11314, 11516in human phenomena 285, 831, 861in knowledge structures 155, 418

abstraction, fallacy of (cont.)and mind models 155and reification 1223see alsoalternatives, loss of; mechanistic

fallaciesacademia, seeuniversitiesacademic mechanism, seemechanism:

promoted by universitiesACM, seecomputer associationsacronyms

definition of 373n. 1used as new words 3734, 4034used to impoverish knowledge 3734,

3956, 4034, 864advertising

deception in 22, 2201, 845, 857, 8678and the falsification principle 2201as mechanistic indoctrination 845, 857using confirmations to deceive in 2201

agnosia, and novice performance 160agriculture, expertise in, vs. magic 478alphabet of thought, as basis of all knowledge

31415, 316alternatives

in complex structures 119, 2836, 82931in simple structures 93, 11315, 2836

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alternatives (cont.)in software phenomena 288, 8312, 867

alternatives, large number of

and mechanistic models 2836, 82831misinterpreted as all alternatives 115, 290,

296, 8301, 8323misinterpreted as creativity and free will

280, 281, 2836, 288, 2924, 4612,828, 8312

misinterpreted as indeterminism 82831alternatives, loss of

due to abstraction 97, 11316, 290due to both mechanistic fallacies

by degrading the concept ofindeterminism 831, 8323

in the new pseudosciences 285by simplifying complex structures 1234through software devices 418, 4345,

450, 462through software mechanism 126,

28990, 365, 367, 370, 4468, 469,62830

and software totalitarianism 867, 870due to mechanistic approximation 82931due to mechanistic language

and deception 3712, 384, 385and Newspeak 1245, 400

and similarity to software 292, 3667,36970, 4301, 6289

and software totalitarianism 870and the term information technology

398

and the term technology 394and totalitarianism 8634

due to reification 1201in software applications

and the delusion of high levels 2902,296, 4468, 469, 62830, 8323

due to abstraction 11516due to emulating manufacturing

concepts 450due to programming incompetence

126, 291and similarity to language 370, 6289,

706

and software totalitarianism 867, 870analogies

and formal theories 76as metaphors 78

analysis, in simple structures 945

analytic philosophy, and language mechanism31921Andreski, Stanislav, and structuralism 250animals, used to explain human behaviour

237, 239, 241

applications, seesoftware applicationsapproximation

mechanistic, seemechanistic approximation

non-mechanistic, complex structures as148, 1701

art, and creativity 1756artificial intelligence

based on mechanism 1456failure of 1456, 1836and mechanistic mind theories 1456naivety of 145, 2612, 435

artificial languagesbased on simple structures 112, 309, 31317,

6401as classification systems 314, 31516, 6401

as means to attain new knowledge 31415as means to express knowledge 314see alsoperfect language

artisans, seecraftsmenaspects

of software applications 348, 355, 419, 4401,444, 4456, 448, 472, 521, 542, 628,6802

of stories 351, 357, 401, 4423assumption, false, seefalse assumptionastrology

and the fallacy of software engineering 510

as pseudoscience 13resembling rational pursuits 510

atomismancient 734as basis of understanding 80causing the mechanistic myth 81in corpuscular theories 78definition of 9, 68in hierarchical structures 856

atomistic philosophy, ancient 734atomists, ancient 734atoms, in the atomistic philosophy 734attributes

in classification systemsand complex structures 1034, 6424,

652, 659and the idea of a perfect language 316,

641

and mechanistic approximation 11, 106,359

and simple structures 95, 637, 646and Wittgensteins later philosophy

33841, 3423, 3569, 3603

combining in one structure 101

2

,338

41

,3569, 3603, 6424, 659in complex structures

causing interactions 99, 105, 1723, 641,6424

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attributes (cont.)in complex structures (cont.)

and the idea of a perfect language 316,

641and Newspeak 401and Wittgensteins later philosophy

33741, 3423, 3467, 3569, 3603constant vs. changeable 173depicted as one within another 1012,

33841, 3569, 3603, 6424determining contexts 173examples of 1112, 956, 989, 100, 33741flow-control, seeflow-control attributesin language structures 112, 401multiple 100, 101, 33741, 3423, 3569,

3603, 5423, 5634, 6424, 652, 659multivalued vs. two-valued 338n. 11and non-mechanistic capabilities 104, 316,

33741, 3569in object-oriented programming, seeobject-

oriented programming: attributes inand reification 107, 11718, 1545repeated 1012, 33941, 3569, 3603, 642,

659

shared by several elements 1012, 33841,3423, 3569, 3603, 642

in simple structures 1112, 956, 989, 100,106, 362

of software entities 12, 28, 347, 3603, 542,5945

and software processes 348, 3603, 542,5634

in software structures, causing interactions3603, 542, 5634, 5936, 658, 659

attributes, in the relational model, seerelational model: fields (columns,attributes) in

autism, as failure to combine knowledgestructures 1801, 185

automata, and formal languages 2612automotive technology, analysis of term 397

B

Babel, and the idea of a perfect language 3034Bacon, Francis, and utopianism 1312basic file operations, seefile operationsbegging the question, seecircularitybehaviour

illogical, creativity as 1834

logical, lack of creativity as 183

4

normal, as unspecifiable quality 1834,1889

science of, behaviourism perceived as 235,236

behaviourismbased on animal behaviour 237, 239, 241based on mechanism 236, 238

definition of 2356failure of 238, 2402as means to create a perfect society 279perceived as science of behaviour 235, 236as pseudoscience 235, 2389, 2401, 279and reification 238reinstating the traditional concepts of mind

2401and simple structures 277stimulus-response process in 236, 2389,

2402and the traditional concepts of mind 2356,

2401Berlin, Isaiah

and free will vs. determinism 8401and modern myths 5and scientism 1345

binary operations, in structuralism 2447,248

biology, and scientism 1367black-box principle, seestructured

programming: black-box principle inblocks, seesoftware blocksBoden, Margaret A., and structuralism 249

Boehm, Barry W., and software engineering499500, 508

Bhm, Corrado, seeBhm and Jacopini,work of

Bhm and Jacopini, work ofmisrepresented as practical concept 5667,

5689, 5712, 605misrepresented as saying three elementary

constructs 5727, 585misrepresented as the black-box principle

584

perceived as proof of the structuredprogramming theory 523, 566, 5712,577, 578

and the structure theorem 523as theoretical concept 568, 5712, 5778and Turing machines 5712, 573

Boole, George, and language structures 31213Boolean logic

invoked in structuralism 246as logic system 711and the rationalist language fallacies 31213

Brackett, Michael H., and denormalization796

7

Brathwaite, Ken S.and normalization 7724and the relational model 723

Bruner, Jerome S., and creativity 174, 1756

in de x 879


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bureaucracyrole of, under totalitarianism 30, 4901,

844, 847

in software, seesoftware bureaucracy;software bureaucrats

universities as 14, 16, 275, 855business, seecorporationsbusiness mechanism 844, 845, 8567

C

C (programming language)GOTOstatement in 610, 617as high-level language 464as hybrid language, in object-oriented

programming 656statements in, vs. subroutines 463

canoe building, expertise in, vs. magic 489capabilities

mechanistic, seemechanistic capabilitiesnon-mechanistic, seenon-mechanistic

capabilitiesCarnap, Rudolf, and logical positivism 325Carter, John, and normalization 7767CASE (Computer-Aided Software Engineering)

and application definitions 47981failure of 479, 4813, 600, 8201

and methodologies 4813promises of 479, 5356promotion of 536, 8201and software mechanism 4812, 5356,

600

CASE(software construct), seesoftwareconstructs, flow-control: CASE

Cassirer, Ernstand artificial languages 308, 313and mana 57, 61, 62

causality, fallacy of 21112centralized economy

as growing trend 860totalitarian nature of 133, 8602

century of genius, corpuscular fantasies in 75Channell, David F., and scientism 135, 136charlatanism

due to mechanism 202, 92, 124, 713, 857in promotional work 212, 7412, 846, 857in research, seecorruption: in universitiesin software, seesoftware charlatanism

chick sexingthrough intuitive knowledge 1679

as non-mechanistic phenomenon 169

similar to face recognition 169chickens quandary

and the problem of induction 21213similar to human problems 21213

Chomsky, Noamand artificial intelligence 262and the concept of freedom and creativity

2813and formal grammars 2623and the humanist cause 282and informal models 76and linguistics, seeChomskyan linguisticsand Skinners views on language 242

Chomskyan linguisticsand arguments against innate faculties

170, 2703based on mechanism 2613circularity of 255, 270facts adduced to support theory 2534

failure of 2512, 259, 2645, 268, 273fallacies of 2558, 2623, 2713fifth model (minimalist program) 266n. 23first model 2601as formal system 251, 2578, 2601, 2623,

2645fourth model (principles and parameters)

2658and grammar 251, 2578, 2601, 2623harmful effects of 252, 263, 2813as informal system 76, 254and innate faculties 76, 2525, 26970,

2801, 303and mind models 2612, 268, 270, 2812and modularity 268and programming languages 263as project in artificial intelligence 262as pseudoscience 2512, 25960, 2636,

273, 280and rationalism vs. empiricism 2802and reification 257, 2589, 268reinstating the traditional concepts 267as revolution 251, 265second model (standard theory) 264and semantics 2578, 263, 2645and simple structures 277third model (extended standard theory) 265transformations in 2601, 2623and universal grammar 2545, 273

circular definition, software engineeringdefinition as 4956, 5089

circularityin Chomskyan linguistics 255, 270in the idea of a general will 851, 852in the idea of social forces 840

in the idea of software engineering 495

7,499, 505, 5089

in the idea of software forces 8423in the idea of totalitarianism 8512, 853in ignoring falsifications 512

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circularity (cont.)in language mechanism 320in mechanistic theories 134, 152, 154, 207,

255, 270, 320, 8512in mind models 154in scholastic explanations 70, 151

classes, in object-oriented programming, seeobject-oriented programming:classes in

classification systemsand abstraction 95, 114, 6367, 6512artificial languages as 314, 31516, 641attributes in, seeattributes: in classification

systemsand hierarchical structures 8, 934, 989,

100, 1034, 6434as mechanistic approximation 11, 1034,

106, 359, 646and object-oriented programming 6367,

6389, 6423, 6456, 6524, 6589,660

and reification 31516, 641, 6456and software structures 349, 352, 354, 3603,

441, 542and Wittgensteins later philosophy 33841,

3423, 3569, 3603COBOL (programming language)

file operations in 686, 6903, 694, 697,6989, 705

GOTOstatement in 617, 623n. 47as high-level language 464as hybrid language, in object-oriented

programming 656statements in, vs. subroutines 463

Codd, E. F.as inventor of the relational model 713and the mathematics of normalization 766

Cohen, I. Bernard, and scientism 134, 135, 137collective thinking, myths as 34columns, in the relational model, seerelational

model: fields (columns, attributes) incombinations, of attributes, in one structure

1012, 33841, 3569, 3603, 6424,659

combinations, of file relationships 754combinations, of knowledge structures

and creativity 1746, 1778, 1837and mental disorders 17881, 185

comic strips, as myths 6Communism

as myth 5

as totalitarian democracy 849and utopianism 132

complex capabilities, seenon-mechanisticcapabilities

complex knowledge, seenon-mechanisticknowledge

complex phenomena, seenon-mechanistic

phenomenacomplex problems, seenon-mechanistic

problemscomplex structures

alternatives in 119, 2836, 82931attributes in, seeattributes: in complex

structuresand contexts 1723, 1845, 187, 1889and creativity 175, 181, 182, 1846definition of 90, 100examples of 109, 110, 112, 1478knowledge as 148, 1545, 164, 1657, 176,

2703, 31517, 323, 41718, 641, 6512and the mind 164, 194, 247, 2703, 41618as models, seenon-mechanistic modelsas non-mechanistic approximation 148,

1701and non-mechanistic capabilities 11011, 112,

148, 164, 1945, 41718, 501, 504, 5934and non-mechanistic phenomena 1112,

1045, 1089, 127, 2045, 2334, 238,2489, 2778, 861

non-mechanistic qualities of 1045, 148simplification of, seeabstraction, fallacy of;

mechanistic approximation;mechanistic fallacies; reduction: ofcomplex to simple structures;reification, fallacy of

and tacit knowledge 1604and Wittgensteins later philosophy 33643,

3457see alsointeractions, of structures;

non-mechanistic phenomenacomplexity

levels of, seelevelsin structures 93, 93n. 1, 96, 99100, 1089,

121, 636, 709n. 2, 729n. 1computer associations

contributing to the software bureaucracy3940

promoting software mechanism 3940supporting the elites 3940

conditional constructs, seesoftware constructs,flow-control: conditional

confirmationsease of finding 210, 216looking for

as illogical method 210

11

,215

16

,220

3,24950, 511, 674

and old theories 222as popular method 21819, 2202, 674and software testing 223

i nd ex 881


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craftsmenprogrammers compared to 494, 4979,

505, 6356, 675

see alsocraftsmanshipcreativity

in art 1756as capacity for low levels 4345as combining knowledge structures 1746,

1778, 1837and complex structures 175, 181, 182, 1846degrading the concept of 2778, 2813,

8278, 8312, 8334, 835denied by mechanistic theories 27880,

438, 8278denied by software theories 2924, 2967,

842in humour 1778as illogical behaviour 1834and mental disorders 17881, 185in metaphoric thinking 176misinterpreted as large number of

alternatives 280, 281, 2836, 288,2924, 4612, 828, 8312

and non-mechanistic capabilities 172, 1746,1778, 2778, 4345

in normal behaviour 174, 178, 1812in recognizing objects 1834

replacing with software devices 282, 2934,2967, 8312

crisis, in software, seesoftware crisiscultural fashions, as myths 67culture of knowledge substitutes 190, 8745current index, seefile operations: current

index incurrent key, seefile operations: current key incurrent pointer, seefile operations: current

pointer incursor, in SQL 812

D

Dante Alighieri, and the idea of a perfectlanguage 303

data fields, seefields: in data filesdata files

definition of 688fields in, seefields: in data filesrecord keys in, seekeys: in data filesrecords in, seerecords: in data filessee alsoindex files

data inconsistencies, seerelational model: dataredundancy and inconsistencies indata integrity, seerelational model: integrity

functions indata records, seerecords: in data files

data redundancy, seerelational model: dataredundancy and inconsistencies in

database fields, seefields: in data files

database operationsdefinition of 6867difficulty of 7012, 703

vs. file operations 687as high-level operations 6789, 683, 687,

7023, 8001database structures

definition of 687description of 702interacting with other software structures

2279, 702, 724, 733, 7345, 7378, 757,761, 768, 800

see alsofile relationshipsdatabase systems

definition of 687and the delusion of high levels 683, 7023,

8001early models of 6789

vs. file systems 687as frauds 6789as management tools 6789motivation for 677, 686and programming incompetence 6789,

705, 75960, 792, 817

as programming substitutes 67880, 75960,817

promises of 679see alsorelational model

databasesand applications, integration of 705, 800, 811aspects of 7802definition of 687design of

based on field dependencies 7613,7689, 772, 7734, 7757, 7789, 7823,802

based on file relationships 7557, 7623,7723, 7745, 776, 7778, 7812, 798

as informal procedure 760, 7623, 7645,780, 7813, 7968

as non-mechanistic phenomena 7802relationships in, seefile relationshipsas software principle 3513as software processes 352, 361, 4401, 702as structures 352, 361, 4401, 702

Date, C. J.and denormalization 7956

and the first normal form 789

90

and the mathematics of normalization 767and normalization 762, 7746, 7779and ordinary field dependencies 771and the relational model 723

in de x 883


24/68

deceptionin advertising 22, 2201, 845, 857, 8678through language, seelanguage: deception

throughin promoting ideologies 846, 865in selling 22, 845through software, seesoftware charlatanism

deductionand hierarchical structures 878, 310, 708and the problem of demarcation 21314in refuting theories 215

definitions, of software applicationsand CASE 47982as mechanistic approximation 4734, 477as mechanistic delusion 4724, 477, 47982

requiring non-mechanistic knowledge4801

definitions, of structures 85, 923, 945, 5545,6367

dehumanization, through totalitarianism1920, 855

delusions, mechanistic, seemechanisticdelusions

demarcationPoppers criterion of 214, 21618principles of

as concept, explanation of 21011, 214,21518, 2235

dishonesty toward 2301generally ignored 218, 2202, 2302misinterpreted 2302and philosophical subtleties 2301used to expose pseudosciences 208, 231,

512

problem of 208, 209, 21011and the problem of induction 21112,

21314democracy

liberal, seeliberal democracyand progression toward totalitarianism

8589, 872totalitarian, seetotalitarian democracy

denormalization, seenormalization, in therelational model: denormalization in

dependencefostered by the software elites

causing irresponsibility 48690, 833and the delusion of high levels 44952,

4623, 4658, 62830, 650, 6756, 705due to programming incompetence

416,475

6

,626

,675

6

,792

,816

17

,81920preventing non-mechanistic knowledge

2912, 4235, 4278, 436, 493, 8701,8745

dependence (cont.)fostered by the software elites (cont.)

and the promise to solve non-mechanistic

problems 1957, 420, 421on knowledge substitutes

causing irresponsibility 48790vs. non-mechanistic capabilities 190preventing non-mechanistic knowledge

2001, 41920, 4278, 8745and the promise to solve non-mechanistic

problems 657, 1957, 2956on the mechanistic myth 25, 26on programming substitutes

causing irresponsibility 4867and the delusion of high levels 4567,

4659, 626, 62830, 650, 6756, 705due to programming incompetence 323,

389, 545, 1989, 2945, 41113, 415,81920

on ready-made products 856, 858on software 2989, 40910, 41113, 432,

4378on software devices

causing irresponsibility 48790, 833,8345, 839

and the delusion of high levels 44952,4623

vs. non-mechanistic capabilities 4201,4378

preventing non-mechanistic knowledge200, 4235, 436, 439, 8745

and the promise to solve non-mechanisticproblems 1957, 4223

dependencies, field, seerelational model: fielddependencies in

dependency theory, seenormalization, in therelational model

Descartes, Renand artificial languages 313and hierarchical structures 88, 89, 1434,

208, 3067and language structures 310and material world vs. mental world 3067

deskillingof managers and workers 200, 2956of programmers 345, 35n. 2, 4867, 493,

497500, 498n. 13, 61821, 6256, 6756determinism

and academic fashion 8278definition of 824

vs. free will, and responsibility 823

4

,827

8,8334, 8367, 8403

and hierarchical structures 99, 2778Laplacean 72, 569, 8245and mathematics 89

884 i nd ex


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determinism (cont.)and mechanism, seemechanism: and

determinism

and mechanistic approximation 826, 82831naivety of 72in the new pseudosciences 2778, 2812,

2836, 828and non-mechanistic phenomena 91, 234,

2836, 8267and scientific theories 912and sociology 8401and software theories 288, 2924, 8312,

8413see alsoindeterminism

deterministic models, seemechanistic models

deterministic phenomena, seemechanisticphenomena

deterministic systemshuman beings perceived as

in the new pseudosciences 1813, 2778,4378, 8278, 8334, 8545

in software-related affairs 8345under totalitarianism 836, 852, 8612

societies perceived asin the new pseudosciences 8334, 8545under totalitarianism 852

development environments

as low levels in high-level systemsdishonest nature of 44952, 4623, 4648and object-oriented programming

62830, 6489, 650, 6756and the relational model 6767, 685,

704, 8001and structured programming 626

reversing the principles of programming462, 465, 4678, 62930, 6489, 685

see alsosoftware devicesdevices, software, seesoftware devicesdie rolling

as analogy of human phenomena 82930as non-mechanistic phenomenon 82930

Dijksterhuis, E. J.and corpuscular theories 75, 79and mechanism 71, 79, 88, 89

Dijkstra, E. W.and the GOTOdebate 5223, 608, 620and mathematical programming 5012and structures, static vs. dynamic 546

doctrine, mechanistic, seemechanismdogma

mechanism as 7

,26

,91

,109

,233

5,274

5,503

software mechanism as 26, 503, 504domination, through software, seesoftware

domination

doublespeakdefinition of 382examples of 3824

Dreyfus, Hubert L., and the philosophy ofartificial intelligence 146n. 7

Dreyfus, Hubert L. and Stuart E.and artificial intelligence 146and mind substitutes 190and skill acquisition 15760

dynamic sequence, seesequence: of operations,static vs. dynamic

dynamic structure, seestructures: static vs.dynamic

Eease of use, seesoftware: easy to useEco, Umberto, and the idea of a perfect

language 3024, 309economics

and reification 861and scientism 133, 1356, 861

economycentrally-planned, seecentralized economyas non-mechanistic phenomenon 861

educationconformism perceived as 851, 854, 873

as mechanistic indoctrination 16, 845, 855of programmers 32, 197, 41415, 497, 5056,

619, 621Einsteins theory of relativity, and mechanistic

approximations 106elements, of structure

abstract concepts as 114atomic and independent 1556, 2856,

2878, 296, 31112, 31516, 323classes as, in object-oriented programming

6378concrete things as 114definition of 923, 99n. 1objects as, in object-oriented programming

6378shared by several structures 99, 105, 4468,

469, 628starting 93, 95, 554terminal 923top 923, 95, 554

Eliade, Mirceaand mana 57, 61and modern myths 34, 57

and myths 2

3

elitebad 1516, 234controlling language in imaginary society

366, 42931, 468

i nd ex 885


26/68

elite (cont.)corporations as 844, 846, 84950, 8568good 15, 234

justified by a mechanistic ideology 844,865

manipulating language 124, 370, 398, 399400, 4067, 4089, 8634, 865, 8701

and myths 1516, 234promoting language mechanism 251, 8389,

870

role of, under totalitarianism 30, 4901software, seesoftware elitesin totalitarian democracy 849, 8512universities as 844, 846, 84950, 8545,

85960

weakness of 847see alsocorporations; universities

empiricismexplaining the world through 20910, 216and mind models 2802in Poppers criterion of demarcation 216and the problem of induction 213

engineeringemulated in software theories 86, 4946,

5034, 5067, 5089, 633and hierarchical structures 867misinterpreted by the software theorists

86, 5067non-mechanistic aspects of 5067

entities, of structure, definition of 99n. 1environment, natural, destruction of 1920environment, software, seedevelopment

environmentsEpicureanism, as atomistic philosophy 74ethics, and the idea of responsibility 8234Euclids geometry, based on hierarchical

structures 87, 89evolution, and non-mechanistic capabilities

142, 154, 271experience, personal, seepersonal experienceexpert systems, as mechanistic delusion 435expertise

characteristics of 15760, 272degrading the concept of 2745, 416, 431,

436, 835, 845, 868due to intuitive knowledge 15760, 1689,

432

in natural skills 15960, 271prevention of 657, 1967, 41113, 41920,

48790, 493

in programming,see

programming expertisesubstitutes for, seeknowledge substitutes;programming substitutes

expertsas charlatans 22

experts (cont.)in myth-related services 15in software, seesoftware theorists

explanation, mechanistic, seemechanisticexplanation

exploitation, through software, seesoftwaredomination

F

face recognition, as non-mechanisticphenomenon 11011, 11920, 161

failure, due to mechanismin artificial intelligence 1456, 1836of knowledge substitutes 27, 143, 160, 2001,

296of mechanistic theories, seemechanistic

theories: failure ofof programming substitutes 27, 1467, 160,

198, 2945, 8212of software applications, seesoftware failuresof software theories, seesoftware theories:

failure offallacies, mechanistic, seemechanistic fallaciesfalse assumption

causing invalid theories 205in magic 4950, 52

in myths 14in pseudosciences 205, 512in software theories 32, 4950, 52

falsifiabilityas basis of testability 21618lacking in pseudoscientific theories 21718,

2246, 2345as misunderstood concept 218, 2312as quality of scientific theories 21618, 269

vs. verifiability, as criterion of demarcation214, 21617, 324

falsification principlevs. confirmations 21517, 2389, 24950,

514, 627, 674vs. defending the theory 21516, 2345,

269, 328n. 1, 511definition of 214generally ignored 218, 2202and old theories 222used in decision-making 2202used in testing software 223used to expose deception in advertising

2201

falsificationsavoiding, stratagems for 2246, 2389,24850, 2636, 344, 672, 854

ignored by pseudoscientists 221, 239, 250,511, 514, 627

886 in de x


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falsifications (cont.)ignoring, circularity of 512looking for

as logical method 211, 21518, 2203, 511,674

and old theories 222and software testing 223

suppressed by expanding the theoryin behaviourism 2402in Chomskyan linguistics 25960, 2636,

269

in the new pseudosciences 2345, 344,513, 7278, 827

in object-oriented programming, seeobject-oriented programming:

expanded in order to suppressfalsifications

in the relational model, seerelationalmodel: expanded in order tosuppress falsifications

in software devices 451, 626, 801in software theories 514, 626as stratagem, explanation of 2247, 511in structured programming, see

structured programming: expandedin order to suppress falsifications

turning into features, seefalsifications:

suppressed by expanding the theorysee alsoconfirmations; falsification principle

family resemblance, idea of, in Wittgensteinslater philosophy 3378, 3423

field dependencies, seerelational model: fielddependencies in

field relationships, and file relationships 7546fields

in data filesalphanumeric, definition of 690binary, definition of 690date, definition of 690definition of 688numeric, definition of 690relating files through 697700, 7512,

7536, 7578, 7689used as record key 6889, 693700, 701,

7534in the relational model, seerelational model:

fields (columns, attributes) infile maintenance

as low-level operations 4458, 683using the basic file operations 683, 694

file operationsfor accessing individual records 6934for adding records 693and applications, integration of 705, 800, 811basic, definition of 686, 6912

file operations (cont.)as correct level of abstraction 7034, 705current index in

definition of 691uses of 6912

current key indefinition of 691uses of 6912

current pointer indefinition of 691uses of 692

for data analysis 6967vs. database operations 687definition of 686DELETE

definition of 692vs. SQL operations 811, 812uses of 693, 696

for deleting records 693, 696for displaying fields 693for file maintenance 683, 694and file scanning loops 694700, 701, 703flexibility of 704and flow-control constructs 690, 6947,

6989, 704, 705, 738, 813as high-level operations 684and interacting structures 702

as low-level operations 684, 687, 7024, 800for modifying records 693, 696as necessary and sufficient operations 686,

693, 703, 800, 811and nesting of file scanning loops 697700,

701, 788, 793pointer in

definition of 691, 812uses of 692

for queries and reports 696, 738READ

definition of 692vs. SQL operations 811uses of 6934, 697, 700, 701

READ NEXT

definition of 692vs. SQL operations 811, 812, 814uses of 694, 697, 6989

record area indefinition of 691uses of 6912

and record selection 6949, 701, 736for relating files 697700

requiring expertise 677

,686

REWRITE

definition of 691vs. SQL operations 811, 812uses of 6934, 696, 697

i nd ex 887


28/68

file operations (cont.)for scanning records 6947simplicity of 701, 703

for sorting records 696START

definition of 692vs. SQL operations 811, 812uses of 694, 697, 6989

as traditional operations 687, 705, 811WRITE

definition of 691vs. SQL operations 811uses of 6934, 696, 697

file relationshipscombinations of 754

as complex structures 352n. 3, 702, 761database design based on 7557, 7623,

7723, 7745, 776, 7778, 7812, 798and field relationships 7546through field values 697700, 701, 7512,

7536, 7578, 7689through file nesting 697700, 701, 7534,

788

as hierarchical structures 702, 754many-to-many

definition of 700, 753examples of 7001, 7534, 7723, 7778

many-to-onedefinition of 700, 753examples of 753, 7556, 768

one-to-manydefinition of 700, 753examples of 6989, 753, 7556, 7745, 776

one-to-onedefinition of 700, 752examples of 7523, 7556, 768, 7723,

7745as reflection of field value restrictions

7579as reflection of the applications

requirements 7568, 759, 7613, 764,7689, 7729, 7801, 7978

file scanning loopsas correct level of abstraction 703, 810, 811definition of 6945examples of 6947, 6989, 701implicit, in the relational model 718, 788,

81013nesting of 697700, 701, 788, 793in SQL 81013, 814, 81516

file systemsvs. database systems 687definition of 687

filesdata, seedata files

files (cont.)index, seeindex filesin the relational model, seerelational model:

files (tables, relations) inrelative 6889sequential 6889service, seeservice filessee alsofile operations; file relationships

Fleming, Candace C.and denormalization 795and the first normal form 790and the relational model 723, 741

flow-control, as software principle 543flow-control attributes

and flow-control constructs 5945

and flow-control structures 544, 5478,558, 5601, 5934

and the GOTOstatement 543and jumps 5434, 553, 5645, 567, 593,

5945multiple 544, 5589, 5645, 5934and the nesting scheme 545, 558, 5601,

5645, 594flow-control constructs, seesoftware

constructs, flow-controlflow-control features

low-level vs. high-level 518

as software processes 543flow-control structures

as complex structures 548, 552, 553, 5569,5601, 5623, 5678, 590, 5912, 5978,666

and the delusion of the main structure3634, 529, 5445, 5502

and flow-control attributes 544, 5478, 558,5601, 5934

multiple 5534, 5569, 5901, 5934, 6023,663, 666

perceived as one structure 529, 5445, 5478,552, 5678, 663

and software processes 55960as structures in time, vs. structures in space

546, 547, 554, 556as variable structures, vs. fixed structures

555, 558flow diagrams

examples of 527, 53841, 573ignored in object-oriented programming

663, 665reflecting the nesting scheme 5268, 545,

558,591

,663

structured 528, 53741, 577, 587flow of execution

definition of 517jumps in, seejumps, in the flow of execution

888 i nd ex


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flow of execution (cont.)in object-oriented programming, see

object-oriented programming: flow

of execution inand programming expertise 51819, 5678,

619

in structured programming, seestructuredprogramming: flow of execution in

flowchartsvs. classification-style diagrams 364and the delusion of the main structure

345, 364see alsoflow diagrams

formal logic, seelogic systemsformal reductionism 9, 76, 824

fourth-generation languages (4GL)as frauds 4645, 7045as low levels in high-level systems 4645,

704

fraud, in research, seecorruption: in universitiesfree will

degrading the concept of 2778, 8278,8334, 835

denied by deterministic social theories8401

denied by mechanistic theories 27880,438, 8278

denied by software theories 842vs. determinism, and responsibility 8234,

8278, 8334, 8367, 8403misinterpreted as large number of

alternatives 280, 281, 2836, 288, 828and non-mechanistic capabilities 2778

freedomvs. conformism 853defending 422degrading the concept of 2813, 853in software, seesoftware freedomsee alsofree will

Frege, Gottlob, and the idea of a perfectlanguage 320

French Revolutionand totalitarian democracy 849and utopianism 132

Freudianismas myth 45as pseudoscience 210, 224

Frith, Uta, and contexts 1801, 185functions, seesubroutines

Ggames, idea of, in Wittgensteins later

philosophy 33741, 3423, 3467Gardner, Howard, and structuralism 249, 250

general willconformism as reflection of 851, 853, 874as idea, circularity of 851, 852

as natural human qualities 851, 874generations, of programming languages 4645,

503

generative grammardefinition of 251see alsoChomskyan linguistics

geometrical method, and hierarchicalstructures 88, 89, 208

geometry, as hierarchical structures 87Ghost in the Machine, concept of 149GOTOstatement, seestructured programming:

GOTOstatement in

grammarand Chomskyan linguistics 251, 2578,

2601, 2623formal, in computer science 2612as hierarchical structures 112, 262

Greenbaum, Joan M., and the deskilling ofprogrammers 35n. 2, 498n. 13

growth, delusions of 223gurus, seesoftware theorists

H

Harris, Roy, and language mechanism 8389Hayek, F. A.

and central economic planning 862n. 6and scientism 129, 132

hierarchical metaphorand mathematics 88and mechanism 86

hierarchical structuresand abstraction 956, 6367, 6512in artificial intelligence 1456as basis of mechanism 89, 69as basis of software theories, see

software structures: perceived assimple structures

as brain process 2712and classification systems 8, 934, 989,

100, 1034, 6434definition of 85, 923, 945, 5545, 6367embodying reductionism and atomism 856and engineering 867examples of 89, 934, 956, 98, 100, 1534,

554, 6434and the geometrical method 88, 89, 208

geometry as 87

grammar as 112, 262incorrect, when depicting multiple attributes

1012, 33841, 3569, 3602, 659language as 260, 262, 3002, 309, 6401

i nd ex 889


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hierarchical structures (cont.)logic systems as 708, 732and logical deduction 878, 310, 708

and manufacturing 867, 359mathematics as 910, 87, 30910, 7289,

7356as mechanistic models 856, 901, 93, 108,

127, 2778, 283, 82831as mind models, seemind models: based

on hierarchical structuresand object-oriented programming 6367,

6423, 6456, 6524, 6589, 666phenomena perceived as 910, 80software perceived as, seesoftware struc-

tures: perceived as simple structures

and structured programming 5258, 5478,5502, 5612, 5801, 618

see alsosimple structuresholistic knowledge, and skill levels 15760, 272homunculus fallacy

definition of 150and mechanism 1512, 153and mind models 1502and the phenomenon of vision 1501

human beingsperceived as deterministic systems

in the new pseudosciences 1813, 2778,4378, 8278, 8334, 8545

in software-related affairs 8345under totalitarianism 836, 852, 8612

perceived as operators of software devices4867, 489, 490, 493, 500

human phenomenaindeterministic nature of 10, 21, 89, 1278,

2778, 2837, 713, 828, 8334as interacting structures 128, 133, 1612,

207, 2778, 308software phenomena as 10, 89, 127, 28990,

501

human potential, defending 422Hume, David, and the problem of induction

213

humourand creativity 1778and the GOTOdebate 61415as interacting structures 1778, 1867as a means to mask irrationality 614, 616

hypothesis, false, seefalse assumption

I

iatromechanics, and scientism 1367IBM Corporation

and nested relational databases 7924and software irresponsibility 81819

ideal language, seeperfect languageideologies

academic, totalitarian nature of 8467,

84950, 8545business, totalitarian nature of 8467,

84950, 8568mechanistic, conforming to 8534, 855,

8578, 862, 8689, 873mechanistic software, conforming to 199,

41113, 4378, 4901, 8423, 8689,8745

political, and mind models 2802promoted through deception 846, 865

IEEE Computer Society, seecomputerassociations

ignorancecausing primitive beliefs 42, 434, 5960,

819

causing the software bureaucracy 29, 312,421, 81819

causing the software myth 28, 312fostered by the software elites 657, 291, 422,

4235, 4279, 48990, 493, 500, 81920promoted through propaganda 667

immunizing stratagems, as tricks to avoidfalsifications 225, 2267

impoverishment

due to abstraction 97, 11416due to both mechanistic fallacies 1224,

285, 296, 418, 831due to reification 1201, 2578, 259, 418of knowledge

through acronyms 3734, 3956, 4034,864

through language mechanism 1245,366, 4001, 4025, 42930, 870

through slogans 3723, 3856, 394, 3956,398, 8634

through software mechanism 367, 8478,871

of language 124, 292, 366, 399401, 4025,4067, 42931, 468, 8634, 870

of software 126, 2902, 367, 832, 8678, 8701of software-related affairs 11516, 126, 2912,

296

incompetencein programming, seeprogramming

incompetencein software-related affairs 312, 41, 4278spread of 41, 823

inconsistencies, data, seerelational model: dataredundancy and inconsistencies inindeterminism

attempting to reconcile with mechanism8256, 8278, 8334

890 i nd ex


31/68

indeterminism (cont.)degrading the concept of 8278, 82932,

8334

denied by deterministic social theories8401

in human phenomena, denied bymechanistic theories 10, 21, 89, 1278,2778, 2837, 713, 8278, 8334

misinterpreted as large number ofalternatives 82831

and reification 121in software phenomena

denied by software theories 8990, 127,287, 2889, 2924

replacing with determinism 2925, 8335

see alsodeterminismindeterministic models, seenon-mechanistic

modelsindeterministic phenomena, seenon-

mechanistic phenomenaindex files

and the current index 691definition of 6889multiple 689, 701, 754used to define a sorting sequence 689, 696used to identify data records 6889, 6934,

700

used to scan data records 6889, 694700,701

see alsodata filesindexes, seeindex filesindividuality, replacing with conformism 853,

8578, 862, 873indoctrination, mechanistic, seemechanistic

indoctrinationinduction

based on regularities 21112as basis of pseudosciences and superstitions

21112as basis of science 21112and chickens quandary 21213in discovering theories 215and fallacious decision-making 21213fallacy of 21112problem of 21112and the problem of demarcation 21112,

21314inefficiency

in corporations 378, 200, 4879in programming 323, 126, 199, 4834, 486

in society 30

,38

9

,483

,490

1,504

informal reductionism 76information technology

as abstract term 395, 398based on the mechanistic myth 73

information technology (cont.)definition of term 395misuse of term

through the acronym IT 3956analysis of 3956, 3978compared with other fields 3978examples of 3956, 397see alsotechnology: misuse of term

term used as slogan 3956, 397inheritance, in object-oriented programming,

seeobject-oriented programming:inheritance in

innate faculties, idea ofarguments against 170, 2703and linguistics 76, 170, 2525, 26973, 2801,

303, 8389and the new pseudosciences 2845, 828

integrity functions, seerelational model:integrity functions in

Intel Corporation, and the term technology38890

intelligenceartificial, seeartificial intelligenceattempting to represent mechanistically

1701and intuitive knowledge 144and knowing howvs. knowing that 1489,

164

and non-mechanistic knowledge 142, 145,1813, 194

interactions, of language structuresand Chomskyan linguistics 268, 2723and deception 371and the idea of a perfect language 305,

3089, 641impaired in schizophrenia 17980with knowledge structures

and Chomskyan linguistics 2567, 2589,266

and deception 371and the idea of a perfect language 305,

3089and Newspeak 1245, 401, 4035and non-mechanistic knowledge 122,

1667and the rationalist fallacies 31112and similarity to software 292, 3002,

3267, 351, 366, 3689, 42930and software totalitarianism 870and Wittgensteins later philosophy 346

and Newspeak 401

and the rationalist fallacies 31112and similarity to software 3267, 351in stories 3501, 3579, 401, 4423and structuralism 244

in de x 891


32/68

interactions, of language structures (cont.)and totalitarianism 8634and Wittgensteins later philosophy 342,

3456and word meanings 112, 3501

interactions, of software structuresand the delusion of mathematical program-

ming 8990, 5979, 600, 6812and the delusion of the main structure

3456, 350, 3634and file operations 702and flow-control constructs 55960, 5936,

5978, 666ignored by programming aids 1256, 193,

3645

ignored by software devices 296, 832ignored by software theories 12, 8990,

3635, 4724, 514, 5502with knowledge structures

ignored by programming aids 1256ignored by software devices 296and similarity to language 3002, 305,

3267, 367, 3689and software totalitarianism 847, 871

and the need for low levels 4458, 469,62830, 6489, 683, 7034, 705, 724,7378, 800, 8034

and object-oriented programming 6423,64850, 652, 6534, 659, 662

and the relational model 2279, 724, 7345,7378, 761

requiring programming expertise 54, 121,193, 2945, 365, 415, 419, 4413, 568,5967, 702

and similarity to language 3267, 4423,5512, 6289

and software processes 3478, 350, 352, 355,3603, 365, 4401, 542, 55960, 702

and software totalitarianism 867, 871and structured programming 521, 537, 5678,

5912, 5937and Wittgensteins later philosophy 3457,

3603interactions, of structures

causing complexity 87, 105in complex structures 90, 99, 11619, 122,

1645, 173, 642, 6434, 6489, 652and creativity 175, 1778, 1836and distinguishing chicks 169and face recognition 111, 1478

in human phenomena 128

,133

,161

2,207

,2778, 308and humour 1778, 1867impaired in autism 1801, 185impaired in schizophrenia 17980, 185

interactions, of structures (cont.)in language, seeinteractions, of language

structures

loss of 1201, 123, 205and mechanistic mind models 154, 1567,

2467and non-mechanistic knowledge 148, 1612,

1657, 316, 323, 41718, 652, 8323and non-mechanistic mind models 1701,

181, 2703in software, seeinteractions, of software

structuresand tacit knowledge 1612, 1645in a three-body system 10910and voice recognition 1478

see alsocomplex structuresintuition, seeintuitive knowledgeintuitive knowledge

definition of 159and intelligence 144as manifestation of tacit knowledge 171and non-mechanistic capabilities 164, 2713,

495

required for expert performance 15760,1689, 432

and skill levels 15760irrationality

blending with rationality 1213, 46, 4951,536

due to software mechanism 312, 534, 614in looking for confirmations 2202masked through humour 614, 616

irresponsibilitycausing software failures 486, 8212in corporations 4689, 4879, 81920due to language mechanism 468, 8389due to mechanism 401, 2745, 818, 834,

8368due to software devices 468, 4869, 839due to software mechanism 401, 818,

8345, 872due to the software myth 29, 410, 839fostered by the software elites 468, 6201,

6245, 81920justified by the idea of social forces 841, 843justified by the idea of software forces 8423in programming 4867, 498, 6201, 6245,

8223in software-related affairs 41, 8345, 839, 842spread of 401, 823

see alsoresponsibilityisomorphism, seemappingIT, seeinformation technologyiterative constructs, seesoftware constructs,

flow-control: iterative

892 i nd ex


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J

Jacopini, Giuseppe, seeBhm and Jacopini,

work ofJensen, Randall W.

and Bhm and Jacopinis work 575and the GOTOdebate 612and non-standard constructs 589and software engineering 496

jokes, seehumourjumps, in the flow of execution

definition of 51718explicit

vs. implicit 520, 529, 5434, 5645, 5678,591, 6023, 616

necessary 568, 586prohibited 53841, 565and systems of jumps and labels 6225using GOTO 518, 53841, 543, 577, 6023,

621

and flow-control attributes 5434, 553,5645, 567, 593, 5945

implicit, in flow-control constructs 520,529, 5434, 553, 558, 5645

overriding the nesting scheme 5478, 553,558, 5645, 5901, 593, 602

KKernighan, Brian W., and the GOTOdebate 610keys

in data filesascending vs. descending 689and the current key 691definition of 6889duplicate 689

in the relational model 71415knowing how

and complex structures 164definition of term 1489

knowing thatdefinition of term 1489and simple structures 164

knowledgeand abstraction 155approximating with simple structures 165,

418

and artificial languages 31415as complex structures 148, 1545, 164, 1657,

176, 2703, 31517, 323, 41718, 641,651

2

degrading, seeimpoverishment: ofknowledge

developed through experience, seepersonal experience

knowledge (cont.)and the fallacy of abstraction 155, 418growth of, through trial and error 2089, 218

impoverishment of, seeimpoverishment:of knowledge

intuitive, seeintuitive knowledgemechanistic, seemechanistic knowledgenew, uncertainty of 2067non-mechanistic, seenon-mechanistic

knowledgeperceived as simple structures 143, 31517,

3223, 641, 6512and reification 121, 1545, 301, 31516, 371,

4001, 418tacit, seetacit knowledge

unspecifiable, seetacit knowledgeknowledge structures, interacting with

language structures, seeinteractions,of language structures: withknowledge structures

knowledge substitutesas culture 190, 8745dependence on, seedependence: on

knowledge substitutesfailure of 27, 143, 160, 2001, 296and the idea of a perfect society 17as mechanistic delusions


433, 4535, 4612, 8312justified by the software myth 267, 493vs. non-mechanistic capabilities 143,

41718, 459, 8323preventing non-mechanistic knowledge

41920, 4235, 4278promising to solve non-mechanistic

problems 657, 2956mind models as 143, 1467, 1889, 41718perceived as software power 62, 819promoted by the elites


44952justified by the software myth 41vs. non-mechanistic capabilities 190,

2967, 5323preventing non-mechanistic knowledge

41920, 4278, 8745promising to solve non-mechanistic

problems 657, 1957

and skill levels 160

spread of 41, 2001, 2956Knuth, Donald E.

and the GOTOdebate 60910, 613, 615and non-standard constructs 592n. 17

in de x 893


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language mechanism (cont.)impoverishing knowledge 1245, 366,

4001, 4025, 42930, 870

and mind control 1245, 366, 399401,4045, 4067, 4089, 42930, 863,865, 86970

promoted by the elites 251, 8389, 870in the seventeenth century 30812, 31315,

31718, 4589, 6512language structures

interacting, seeinteractions, of languagestructures

perceived as simple structures 260, 262,3002, 309, 6401

Laplacean determinism 72, 569, 8245

Leach, Edmund, and binary operations 247,249

learningand context-dependent knowledge 158and context-free knowledge 158through generic mental processes 170, 2712and holistic knowledge 15760of interacting concepts 1657and intuitive knowledge 15760and personal involvement 1589process of 15760and progression from novice to expert

15760, 41617and rule-following 1578, 159, 272and skill levels 15760see alsoknowledge

Leibniz, Gottfriedand the alphabet of thought 31415, 31617and artificial languages 31415and hierarchical structures 3067and material world vs. mental world 3067and monadology 307and the universal characteristic 315

levelsin language structures

and acronyms 3734, 3956, 4034and deception 3745, 3845and the idea of a perfect language 3223,

3303and Newspeak 1245, 4024and similarity to software 292, 300, 366,

369, 42930, 448, 706and slogans 3723, 3856and software totalitarianism 870and the term technology 386, 389,

390,394

and totalitarianism 8634and Wittgensteins later philosophy 3412and word meanings 3745, 384see alsolevels: in structures

levels (cont.)in software structures

and the delusion of high levels 433,

4468, 44952, 4667, 469, 4701,626, 62830, 7056, 8001

emulating manufacturing concepts 289,44950

and file operations 684, 687, 7034and high-level database operations

6789, 7023, 8001and high-level devices 2956, 4345, 456and high-level programming aids 11516,

1256, 193, 293, 4623, 626, 6489, 6756low in high-level systems 44955, 4645,

4667, 62830, 6489, 685, 704, 8001

and the need for low levels 4458, 469,62830, 6489, 683, 7024, 705, 724,7378, 800, 8034

and ready-made applications 126and the relational model 2279, 6767,

678, 6823, 7023, 7368and software mechanism 290, 292, 419,

4345, 444, 4612, 8312and software totalitarianism 8667see alsolevels: in structures

in structuresdefinition of 923, 96, 554, 6367

embodying reductionism and atomism856

and the fallacy of abstraction, seeabstraction, fallacy of

loss of 97, 11416in mathematical systems 7289, 7357in mind models 151, 1534see alsolevels: in language structures;

levels: in software structureslevels, of abstraction, seelevelslevels, of complexity, seelevelslevels, of programming languages, see

programming languages: levels oflevels, of skill 15760, 41617Lvi-Strauss, Claude

and analysis of myths 2445and binary operations 247, 249and classification of social customs 243denying creativity and free will 280

liberal democracydefinition of 849, 873and liberal software concepts 8735

life cycles, of software applications, delusion

of 478

9

Linger, Richard C.and Bhm and Jacopinis work 576and error-free programming 532and mathematical programming 5012, 531

i nd ex 895


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linguisticsChomskyan, seeChomskyan linguisticsand scientism 76, 112, 233, 243, 251, 8389

theories in, as myths 838little man, seehomunculus fallacylogic, formal, seelogic systemslogic systems

benefits of 708Boolean logic as 711description of 707, 70810as hierarchical structures 708, 732informal aspects of 710limitations of 708, 710, 713, 7323logical operations in 70910, 712, 730as mathematical systems 707, 7289

as models of phenomena 7323predicate calculus as 71112, 732premises in 710propositional calculus as 711syllogistics as 7078used to explain non-mechanistic phenom-

ena mechanistically 708, 71213see alsomathematical systems

logical atomism, Russellsdescription of 321, 3223and the idea of a perfect language 321,

3223, 405

as mechanistic theory 3223logical atomism, Wittgensteins, see

Wittgensteins early philosophylogical positivism

description of 3234and the idea of a perfect language 3246and the idea of unity of science 325and meaningfulness 324as mechanistic project 324and reductionism 3256and verifiability 3234

logical thinking, difficulty of 2068loop, seefile scanning loops; software

constructs, flow-control: iterativeLutz, William, and language abuse 3734,

3778, 3824

M

magicin agriculture 478as belief system 44blending with skills 479, 501

in canoe building and sailing 48

9

compared with mana 57definition of 44as extension to skills 456, 501function of 45

magic (cont.)in modern society 45as prescientific thinking 44

as pseudoscience 44similar to science 46term used in software names 423see alsosoftware magic

magic beliefs, due to false assumption 4950, 52main structure

delusion of 3456, 348, 350, 3534, 3634,5502

the flow-control structure as 3634, 529,5445, 5502

and flowcharts 345, 364perceived as the applications logic 346,

351, 3534, 3634, 529and structured programming 3634, 529,

5445, 5502maintenance, of software applications

as continuous development 478and the delusion of life cycles 4789distorted attitude toward 4768and preference of new applications 415,

4767, 4789, 520and programming incompetence 415, 4767,

51920Malinowski, Bronislaw

and magic 45, 46, 479, 53, 57and myths 23

manacompared with magic 57complexity of the idea 601definition of 57, 601depicting the sacred 61examples of 57perceived as tool 62similar to software power 5860, 612as substitute for personal knowledge 5960term used in various grammatical roles 635as universal potency 62see alsopower; software power

managersas answer to programming incompetence

345, 498, 67980deskilling of 200, 2956similar to primitives 819as software bureaucrats 345

manufacturingbased on mechanism 18emulated in all activities 18

emulated in object-oriented programming632, 633, 635, 661emulated in software theories 27, 32, 34,

52, 723, 77, 289, 364, 443, 632, 633,635, 8667

896 i nd ex


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manufacturing (cont.)emulated in structured programming 531,

5456, 5612

and hierarchical structures 867, 359progress in 18

mappingthrough language 300, 459, 6401as one-to-one correspondence to the actual

things 300, 3034, 310, 318, 3223,3246, 328, 3303, 335, 3445, 459, 6401

through a perfect language 3035, 319,3223, 3247, 328, 3445

through software 300, 3045, 3267, 329,335, 3456, 459, 642, 652

Marcuse, Herbert, and language abuse 373

Martin, Jamesand CASE 536and denormalization 796and the GOTOdebate 606, 620and the idea of software reuse 640and mathematical programming 599n. 18and non-standard constructs 585and object-oriented programming 632,

645, 647, 648and the relational model 741and software engineering 495

Marxism

as myth 45as pseudoscience 210, 226

Maslow, Abraham H., and mechanism 275mathematical functions, as high-level

operations 684, 703mathematical logic, definition of 707mathematical systems

definition of 7289emulated with language 30912as hierarchical structures 910, 87, 30910,

7289, 7356levels of abstraction in 7289, 7357limitations of 7356logic systems as 707, 7289manipulation in

as formal aspect 7301, 7357, 738as main aspect 738

vs. translation 738as models of phenomena 910, 89, 105,

10910, 156, 600, 7289simple vs. complex 736translation in

as informal aspect 7301, 738

vs. manipulation 738

as minor aspect 738see alsologic systems

mathematicsbased on tacit knowledge 1634

mathematics (cont.)as basis of science 878delusion of, in software theories 8990,

5012, 5234, 5312, 5979, 599n. 18,600, 6323, 6803, 725, 7317, 7389,741, 7657, 7912

and determinism 89and empirical science 209equivalent to mechanism 910, 889ideas in, theoretical vs. practical 569, 5989the world identified with 889, 3012,

30912meaning

of sentences 256, 259, 31112, 31920of words 12, 112, 256, 259, 31112, 316, 350,

401, 641meaningfulness

and logical analysis 31920and logical positivism 324and Wittgensteins early philosophy 3334

mechanical metaphorsin human sciences 134as method of explanation 71, 789, 856in programming 28, 523, 86, 134as source of confidence 789

mechanical modelsin biology 1367

in economics 1356as method of understanding 71in politics 137in psychology 135, 13940in sociology 135, 13940

mechanical terms, used illegitimately 134, 1389mechanics

as basis of mechanism 9, 70perceived as ultimate science 69, 745, 76, 77reducing software to 28, 523, 72, 633n. 12

mechanismattempting to reconcile with

indeterminism 8256, 8278, 8334as bad myth 234based on mechanics 9, 70as basis of a perfect society 17, 1378, 836,

837, 850as basis of behaviourism 236, 238as basis of Chomskyan linguistics 2613as basis of information technology 73as basis of manufacturing 18as basis of science 69as basis of software engineering 278,

5003,507

as basis of structuralism 243causing charlatanism 202, 92, 124, 713, 857causing irresponsibility 401, 2745, 818,

834, 8368

i nd ex 897


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mechanism (cont.)causing scientism 20, 1278, 12930, 1348,

141, 1612, 8367, 850

causing the new pseudosciences 13, 191,2045, 2335, 242, 250, 268, 274, 512, 727

causing totalitarianism, seetotalitarianism:due to mechanism

causing utopianism 133, 845, 850, 872as convention 71corrupting societies 4378, 818, 85961definition of 8, 9, 68, 70denying creativity and free will 27880,

438, 8278and determinism

equivalence of 80, 127, 824, 8256, 8278

equivalence of, denying 8256, 8278and Laplaces claim 72, 569, 8245in models of phenomena 1045, 106, 107in software 2924

as dogma 7, 26, 91, 109, 2335, 2745, 503equivalent to hierarchical structures 89,

69, 86, 127equivalent to mathematics 910, 889failure of mechanists to adhere to 84, 2846,

2878fragmentary 834and the homunculus fallacy 1512, 153

as ideology, conforming to 8534, 855,8578, 862, 8689, 873

in language, seelanguage mechanismas method, vs. myth 25, 844as method of discovery 7980as method of explanation 701as method of science 9, 69, 2745, 513as myth, seemechanistic mythnaivety of

in behaviourism 238in Chomskyan linguistics 262in formal reductionism 834, 825as old myth 256perceiving all phenomena as simple

structures 80reflected in the new pseudosciences

191, 208, 2334in software theories 73, 516, 547, 6801,

799

in structuralism 246as philosophy 910, 689, 143, 8256promoted by corporations 844, 845, 8567promoted by universities

causing corruption 273

5

causing totalitarianism 16, 8378, 8545degrading the concept of research 2335,

742

denying creativity and free will 27780

mechanism (cont.)promoted by universities (cont.)

through indoctrination 845

through mechanistic software concepts39, 742

as myth 7through the new pseudosciences 202,

242, 4845through propaganda 844

promoted through indoctrination, seemechanistic indoctrination

promoted through propaganda, seemechanistic propaganda

as psychological support 812, 85as religion 12, 79, 317

similar to political ideologies 845, 8656in software, seesoftware mechanismspread of 4378success of 69as trap 130, 419see alsomechanistic theories

mechanistic approximationadequate for mechanistic phenomena 91,

359, 826causing loss of alternatives 82931classification systems as 11, 1034, 106, 359,

646

and determinism 826, 82831inadequate for non-mechanistic

phenomena 91, 109, 130, 3078, 359,8267

of knowledge 165, 418and mind models 154, 156, 172through reification

and application definitions 4734, 477in artificial intelligence 145in behaviourism 2389characteristic of the new pseudo-

sciences 107, 127, 2045, 2334, 512and face recognition 11011and human phenomena 128, 285, 3078and language 112, 3089and mind models 154in object-oriented programming 646in the relational model 7245in structured programming 5502, 581

simple structures as 11, 106, 145, 148, 2334,2389, 474, 5502, 581, 826, 82831

through software 105, 11819theories as 1067, 82831

mechanistic capabilitiesand non-mechanistic problems 23, 25, 667and simple structures 164

mechanistic delusionsapplication definitions as 4724, 477, 47982

898 i nd ex


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mechanistic delusions (cont.)causing software delusions

and the fallacy of software engineering

323, 723, 4956, 5003, 5056and inadequacy of software devices

1912, 1945, 41718, 41920, 4378and object-oriented programming 6323,

6402and the relational model 6801, 77981and similarity to language 299300,

302, 3045, 3267, 6402and structured programming 5313,

5447, 5502, 5612, 5689, 5979and Wittgensteins early philosophy 335

consequences of 21, 324, 81, 206, 2745, 368

exploited by software companies 190,41920, 421, 4279

knowledge substitutes as, seeknowledgesubstitutes: as mechanistic delusions

mechanism as cause of 69, 81, 91, 1078, 513method to guard against 207methodologies as 4723, 4756, 47981mind models as, seemind models: as

mechanistic delusionsobject-oriented programming as 6423,

6456, 6524, 667perfect languages as 3012, 3045, 31920,

323, 3267, 6412in programming 323, 36, 1945, 2902,

4535, 4835, 5014programming substitutes as 1912, 302,

41112, 415, 419, 4278, 45960, 461ready-made products as 8567relational model as 6801, 713, 727, 7489,

779

and scientific thinking 75software devices as 27, 190, 444, 62830software ease of use as 4324, 44950software power as 4324, 44950software theories as, seesoftware theories:

as mechanistic delusionsstructured programming as 52930, 5447,

5502, 5612, 5678, 5801, 5901,599600, 617, 667

totalitarianism as 21, 24, 276, 852, 85960mechanistic explanation

based on mechanical metaphors 71, 789,856

based on reductionism and atomism 80definition of 70

by separating structures 121

mechanistic fallaciesabstraction, seeabstraction, fallacy ofcausing loss of alternatives, seealternatives,

loss of

mechanistic fallacies (cont.)committed together 1223, 285, 296, 418,

831, 861

in languageand acronyms 3734, 396, 4034, 864and deception 3712, 3845and the idea of a perfect language 3089,

31517, 323and linguistics 120, 257, 2589and Newspeak 1245, 4001, 4026and similarity to software 292, 299302,

366, 36970, 4089, 42931, 45960,8389, 86970

and slogans 3723, 8634and Swifts language machine 4589

and the term technology 394and totalitarianism 863, 865

and mechanistic models 1234, 1267and mind models 1545and non-mechanistic models 1234, 1267reification, seereification, fallacy ofin software

and application definitions 474causing loss of alternatives 1256, 365,

367, 418and the delusion of high levels 2902,

444, 4467, 469, 626, 62830, 650,6757, 6823, 8001

due to emulating manufacturingconcepts 289, 410, 411, 5612

due to programming incompetence 121,126

and high-level devices 440, 8323and high-level programming aids 11516,

1923, 419, 6823and knowledge substitutes 190, 41718and mechanistic theories 51415, 626,

6756, 713and similarity to language 299302,

3667, 4089, 421, 642and software totalitarianism 8667

mechanistic indoctrinationthrough advertising 845, 857through education 16, 845, 855

mechanistic knowledgeas novice level 1578, 1645, 169, 4235,

488, 504, 834restriction to, seenon-mechanistic

knowledge: prevention ofmechanistic language

causing loss of alternatives, seealternatives,loss of: due to mechanistic languageas high levels of abstraction 366, 42930,

8634, 865, 870prevalence of 4067, 864

i nd ex 899


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mechanistic language (cont.)preventing non-mechanistic knowledge

36970, 4067, 42930, 865, 870

and progression toward totalitarianism399, 4057, 864, 86970

see alsolanguage mechanismmechanistic models

adequate for mechanistic phenomena 10, 69,80, 89, 901, 1045, 108, 359, 5001,5801

as approximation, seemechanisticapproximation

in artificial intelligence 1456, 262hierarchical structures as 856, 901, 93,

108, 127, 2778, 283, 82831

and large number of alternatives 2836,82831

and the mechanistic fallacies 1234, 1267and non-mechanistic phenomena 91, 1045,

1079, 2045, 569and the three-body system 10910

mechanistic mythalternatives to 25as belief system 7, 14, 812causing programming incompetence 323dependence on 25, 26due to reductionism and atomism 81

and non-mechanistic phenomena 10origins of 70software as 26, 28, 31, 33see alsosoftware myth

mechanistic performanceas novice level 1578, 1645, 169, 416restriction to 4235, 833, 8345, 836, 855,

8578mechanistic phenomena 10, 69, 80, 89, 90,

1045, 108, 359, 5001, 5801mechanistic problems 66, 1957, 41920mechanistic propaganda

conducted by corporations 844, 8567conducted by universities 844, 854

mechanistic softwarerestriction to 29, 667, 275, 291, 41113, 438,

8668, 8701, 872, 8745see alsosoftware mechanism

mechanistic solutionsproducts as 856and the promise to solve non-mechanistic

problems 21, 657, 4225, 854, 8567,865, 868, 872

software devices as, seesoftware devicesmechanistic theoriesand analogies 77, 246as approximation, seemechanistic

approximation

mechanistic theories (cont.)in artificial intelligence 1456based on the idea of innate faculties 2845,

828circularity of 134, 152, 154, 207, 255, 270,

320, 8512as delusions, seemechanistic delusionsfailure of

due to misinterpreting creativity 2836,28890

due to perceiving minds as machines2778, 854

Subject Index (from "Software and Mind")

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