sorting algorithms and the decay of a science
Today at work, Pratik was practicing a theory he had by asking me a series of computer science and mathematic riddles. The mathematical ones I did great at. The computer science ones involving sorting algorithms were embrassing to me. I just can’t remember much about the algorithms, or at least matching name to algorithm. This apparently was a failure in Pratik’s theory. Pratik is afraid that the field of Computer Science is decaying into a form of engineering, i.e. reliance on manuals and books instead of true learning coupled with a focus on training people for a trade and not for research. I hate to say it but I can definately see our program failing, despite it trying, to produce scientists instead of engineers. Ironically, the program and the faculty here are fighting as hard as possible to prevent this debasement of our field. Frankly, I think that scientists should be able to use books like engineers do regularlly, we however, are adding to the field of knowledge instead of applying it. So the scientist versus engineer argument for Computer Science is one of intention and not of ability of regurgitation.
plb
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