Herbert A. Simon's "The Sciences of the Artificial" proposes a program to establish distinct scientific disciplines for understanding and designing artifacts. The book argues for treating the artificial as a legitimate domain of scientific inquiry, separate from the natural sciences. This approach aims to develop systematic ways of thinking about, building, and understanding designed objects, processes, and systems.
The core endeavor is to create sciences for artifacts, which are objects and systems that are invented by humans. Simon's work provides the intellectual groundwork for a systematic study of these man-made creations, offering a foundational text for a new class of scientific disciplines focused on the artificial.
Key concepts
- Sciences of the artificial — A field of study dedicated to understanding and designing artifacts.
- Artifacts — Objects and systems invented by humans, distinct from natural phenomena.