The Universal Computer

A distinguished prize-winning logician, Martin Davis has had a long career of more than six decades devoted to the important interface between logic and computer science. Born in New York City, he received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 1950. He spent thirty years at New York University, where he helped found the computer science department. His expertise, combined with his genuine love of the subject and excellent storytelling, make him the perfect person to tell this story. Professor Davis is currently Professor Emeritus at New York University and now lives with his wife of 66 years in Berkeley, California.

Leibniz's Dream. Boole Turns Logic into Algebra. Frege: From Breakthrough to Despair. Cantor: Detour through Infinity. Hilbert to the Rescue. Godel Upsets the Applecart. Turing Conceives of the All-Purpose Computer. Making the First Universal Computers. Beyond Leibniz’s Dream.