Synopsis
Most aspects of our private and social lives - our safety, the integrity of the financial system, the functioning of utilities and other services, and national security - now depend on computing. But how can we know that this computing is trustworthy? In Mechanizing Proof, Donald McKenzie addresses this key issue by investigating the interrelations of computing, risk and mathematical proof over the last half century from the perspectives of history and sociology. His discussion draws on the technical literature of computer science and artificial intelligence and on extensive interviews with scientists and engineers. MacKenzie argues that our culture now contains two ideals of proof: proof as traditionally conducted by human mathematicians, and formal, mechanised proof. He describes the systems constructed by those committed to the latter ideal and the many questions those systems raise about the nature of proof. He looks at the primary social influence on the development of automated proof - the need to predict the behaviour of the computer systems on which human life and security depend - and explores the involvement of powerful organisations such as the National Security Agency.
He concludes that in mechanising proof, and in pursuing dependable computer systems, we do not and cannot obviate the need for trust in our collective human judgement.
