In 'Models of My Life', Nobel laureate Herbert A. Simon unveils the intricate tapestry of his intellectual journey, intertwining the realms of psychology, economics, and artificial intelligence. With a blend of autobiography and philosophy, Simon explores the models he created to navigate and understand the complexities of human decision-making. His reflections on the nature of rationality and the limits of knowledge challenge conventional wisdom and inspire deeper thought. Readers will be captivated by Simon's groundbreaking insights and the personal stories that shaped his groundbreaking theories. This book is not just a memoir; it's a profound exploration of the human condition that invites you to rethink the models that shape your own life.
By Herbert A. Simon
Published: 1996
"The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook."
In this candid and witty autobiography, Nobel laureate Herbert A. Simon looks at his distinguished and varied career, continually asking himself whether (and how) what he learned as a scientist helps to explain other aspects of his life. A brilliant polymath in an age of increasing specialization, Simon is one of those rare scholars whose work defines fields of inquiry. Crossing disciplinary lines in half a dozen fields, Simon's story encompasses an explosion in the information sciences, the transformation of psychology by the information-processing paradigm, and the use of computer simulation for modeling the behavior of highly complex systems. Simon's theory of bounded rationality led to a Nobel Prize in economics, and his work on building machines that think—based on the notion that human intelligence is the rule-governed manipulation of symbols—laid conceptual foundations for the new cognitive science. Subsequently, contrasting metaphors of the maze (Simon's view) and of the mind (neural nets) have dominated the artificial intelligence debate. There is also a warm account of his successful marriage and of an unconsummated love affair, letters to his children, columns, a short story, and political and personal intrigue in academe.
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“The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook.”
Models of My Life
By Herbert A. Simon
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Herbert A. Simon (1916-2001) was an acclaimed American author, psychologist, and Nobel laureate, best known for his pioneering work in cognitive psychology and artificial intelligence. His notable works include 'Administrative Behavior', 'Models of Bounded Rationality', and 'The Sciences of the Artificial'. Simon's writing style is characterized by clarity and a rigorous approach to complex subjects, often intertwining various disciplines such as economics, sociology, and computer science. His interdisciplinary insights have fundamentally influenced the fields of decision making, problem-solving, and organization theory.
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