How Tomitaro Makino might approach Computer Science

Let us first observe with precision the phenomenon presented to us, this "computer science." It is spoken of as a new field, a discipline, and like any new growth discovered in the field, it demands careful study and rigorous classification. What are its essential characteristics? We are told it deals with "information" and "computation." These terms, however, require further delineation.

The concept of "information" itself, when examined, resembles the intricate patterns found in leaf venation or the distinct arrangement of petals in a flower. It is not a formless entity, but one that can be observed, quantified, and structured. How is this "information" captured? Through a series of discrete states, much like the stages of a plant's life cycle or the distinct hues of a pigment. These states, when ordered, form a system, a taxonomy of sorts.

"Computation" then, appears to be the process by which these structured states are manipulated and transformed. This is analogous to the chemical reactions that occur within a plant, or the biological processes that lead to growth and reproduction. The efficacy and accuracy of these transformations are paramount, much as the accurate classification of a plant species relies on the precise observation of its reproductive organs.

We must establish a clear classification for these processes. Are there fundamental "species" of computation? What are their defining "morphological" features, their observable behaviors? This phenomenon, like a botanical specimen, demands careful study to discern its underlying principles and its place within the grander order of things. The evidence speaks for itself, if we only listen attentively to the precise operations and their predictable outcomes. Without such careful study, we risk…

Imagined perspective — an AI synthesis grounded in Tomitaro Makino’s recorded ideas and methods, not a quotation or a statement they actually made.