Design and the Sciences of the Artificial

Can we develop a science of design, a science of the artificial or human-built world? How might we think about a science or a theory of design? Is there a difference between the natural world and the artificial world? How might we evaluate designs? Is there a logic of design? How can we search for alternatives when we design? How might we organize and structure the design process? How can design problems be represented? Should design be a core discipline for every liberally educated person? What curricula would be studied? How might we think about the design of societies?

Herbert A. Simon (1916-2001), one of the most influential social scientists of the 20th century and recipient of the 1978 Nobel Prize in Economics, explores these questions and more in his penetrating, influential, and important book "The Sciences of the Artificial, Third Edition" (caveat: the book is a bit dry and academic, though mostly clear and accessible). In the book, Simon explores economics, artificial intelligence, psychology and complex systems to outline a vision for the sciences of the artificial. See the publisher's web site for more information about Simon's book by following this link (http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/sciences-artificial).

http://mitpress.mit.edu/sites/default/files/imagecache/booklist_node/9780262691918.jpg

This meetup is one in a series that I have organized about various aspects of design. Here are links to the previous discussions I have organized on this subject:

• Engineering Failures & Society (8 May 2011) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/17217567)

• The Nature of Technology (8 July 2012) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/43823422)

• The Essential Engineer (13 Jan 2013) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/90830862)

• Design Thinking (9 Mar 2013) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/98153372)

• Are Culture, Art and Design better ways to change society? (9 Jun 2013) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/116301992)

• Technology and Invention in Finance (16 Feb 2014) (https://www.meetup.com/thinkingsociety/events/160217332)