Syntax, Semantics, and Computer Programs

William J. Rapaport

doi:10.1007/s13347-019-00365-8

Syntax, Semantics, and Computer Programs

William J. Rapaport

Department of Computer Science and Engineering

University at Buffalo

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Turner (2018) argues that computer programs must have purposes, that implementation is not a kind of semantics, and that computers might need to understand what they do. I respectfully disagree: Computer programs need not have purposes, implementation is a kind of semantic interpretation, and neither human computers nor computing machines need to understand what they do.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	309-321
Number of pages	13
Journal	Philosophy and Technology
Volume	33
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s13347-019-00365-8
State	Published - Jun 1 2020

Keywords

Computer programs
Implementation
Semantics
Syntax

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10.1007/s13347-019-00365-8

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title = "Syntax, Semantics, and Computer Programs",

abstract = "Turner (2018) argues that computer programs must have purposes, that implementation is not a kind of semantics, and that computers might need to understand what they do. I respectfully disagree: Computer programs need not have purposes, implementation is a kind of semantic interpretation, and neither human computers nor computing machines need to understand what they do.",

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AB - Turner (2018) argues that computer programs must have purposes, that implementation is not a kind of semantics, and that computers might need to understand what they do. I respectfully disagree: Computer programs need not have purposes, implementation is a kind of semantic interpretation, and neither human computers nor computing machines need to understand what they do.

KW - Computer programs

KW - Implementation

KW - Semantics

KW - Syntax

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85069193963

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DO - 10.1007/s13347-019-00365-8

M3 - Comment/debate

SN - 2210-5433

VL - 33

SP - 309

EP - 321

JO - Philosophy and Technology

JF - Philosophy and Technology

IS - 2

ER -

Syntax, Semantics, and Computer Programs

Abstract

Keywords

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