The Computer and the Brain

New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 1958. First Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine in Near Fine Dustjacket. First Edition. Hardcover. Von Neumann's fifth and last work on automata theory—his 1956 Silliman Lectures, left incomplete at his death and never delivered. The lectures present "an approach toward the understanding of the nervous system from the mathematician's point of view" (p. 1); they discuss the principles underlying "the systematics and the practice of computing machines" (p.3) and how these resemble or differ from the way the brain functions.
"Von Neumann's war-related computer activities spurred his further interest in theoretical issues of the information sciences. His main concern was for developing a general, logical theory of automata. His hope was that this general theory would unify the work of Turing on theoretical machines, of McCulloch and Pitts on neural networks, and of Shannon on communication theory. Whereas Wiener attempted to unify cybernetics around the idea of feedback and control problems, von Neumann hoped to unify the various results, in both the biological and mechanical realms, around the concept of an information processor— which he called an ‘automaton.' (The term automaton had been in use since antiquity to refer to a device that carries out actions through the use of a hidden motive power; von Neumann was concerned with those automata whose primary action was the processing of information.)
"The task of constructing a general and logical theory of automata was too large for von Neumann to carry out in detail with the final few years of his career. Instead, he attempted to provide a programmatic framework for the future development of the general theory and limited himself to developing specific aspects, including the logical theory of automata, the statistical theory of automata, the theory of complexity and self-replication, and the comparison of the computer and the brain." (Aspray 1958, 133-34)
Minsky 1963, 506.
Ownership signature of GE Wright (presumably the noted biblical scholar). Minimal shelf/edge wear, ownership signature at ffep, else tight, bright, and unmarred; DJ shows minor shelf/edge wear. Gray cloth boards, black ink lettering; pictorial DJ. Small 8vo. 82pp plus np history of the lecture series (4pp).