Computer Quote by Hal Abelson
“Now, the reason that we think computer science is about computers is pretty much the same reason that the Egyptians thought geometry was about surveying instruments. And that is, when some field is just getting started and you don't really understand it very well, it's very easy to confuse the essence of what you're doing with the tools that you use.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Computer Science Foundations, 1990s, MIT
Warns that early-stage fields often conflate tools with core concepts, leading to misunderstandings about the discipline’s essence.
In simple terms: Don't mistake tools for the field itself.
Key Takeaway
Focus on underlying principles, not just technology.
Themes
education
philosophy
technology
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
academic
educational
When to use this quote
- curriculum design
- research proposals
- industry presentations
Key Concepts
epistemology
disciplinary identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What core concepts define your field?
- How can you separate tool bias from theory?
A Different Perspective
Tools evolve faster than foundational ideas.
![“[Computer science] is not really about computers and it's not about computers in the same sense that physics is not really about particle accelerators, and biology is not about microscopes and Petri dishes... and geometry isn't really about using surveying instruments.” quote by Hal Abelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/232/hal-abelson-36322_biology_computer-science-is-not-really-about-com_2130397.jpg)
