Yet it has been apparent for a long time that rationalism was not sufficient to produce great software. While strictly defined projects often flounder under the weight of the rules they were required to operate by, small teams and individuals can produce significant software. What Computers Still Can't Do, in placing Martin Heidegger in the center of postmodern criticism of traditional design paradigms. This book delves into many areas of philosophical inquiry in the 20th century. I can't cover them all in this review, but I'll describe the principal themes of the book.
Computer science is the theoretical study of computer systems.
It descends from a tradition of thought that began with the formalizing abstractions of Plato and Aristotle, and was refined in the age of enlightenment by Descartes and Leibniz. Their influence is demonstrated by syllabuses that teach software as an extension of mathematics. In the real world, where software must be delivered in a timely manner, computer science is subsumed by the accumulated patterns of practical experience. Pragmatic considerations overshadow theoretical notions. Despite criticism from traditionalists, discarding a purely theoretical approach to software engineering for one based on praxis is not a move in the direction of irrationalism, but a recognition of the limitations of theory.