The Sciences of the Artificial

The Sciences of the Artificial reveals the design of an intellectual structure aimed at accommodating those empirical phenomena that are “artificial” rather than “natural.” The goal is to show how empirical sciences of artificial systems are possible, even in the face of the contingent and teleological character of the phenomena, their attributes of choice and purpose. Developing in some detail two specific examples—human psychology and engineering design—Professor Simon describes the shape of these scientists as they are emerging from developments of the past 25 years.