Do Programmers Think Like Computers?

A couple thousand years ago, Greek philosophers hypothesized about matter and about human understanding of the world. They reasoned that since humans could understand the world, then that must mean the human brain is made of the same kind of matter that the world is made of. Probably not the most logical of deductions, but it got me thinking. The human brain is a fairly logical machine. While it can do many things and reason in many ways, it’s owner can think pretty logically when he puts in the effort. Computers, too, are strictly logical machines. They operate sequentially depending on certain conditions in the program and input from the user. The programmer knows this well. So, if an analogy may be drawn from the ancient Greek’s hypothesis, the programmer, in order to understand a computer, must have the capacity to think like a computer. Fair enough, right? The question that I’ll try to answer is whether programmers, over time, come to think more and more like computers and whether they can “go back” to other, less logical forms of thinking.

The human mind is a complex thing. Humans don’t fully understand it, though we may have a general idea of what goes on in certain locations in the brain thanks to fMRI machines. While we don’t fully understand the brain, we know quite a few important things about it. We know that the brain is fairly adaptable (read: alterable). We know that the brain can be operated logically. And we know that the brain’s grey matter “grows” with the region’s use.

With all this in mind, is it far-fetched to say that people may become more logical over time as they use their brain’s capacity for logic? In other words, do people who regularly engage in intensely logical work (i.e. programmers) tend to, over time, think more and more like computers? The simple answer is “yes”. People who routinely employ logic in their thinking are better able, over time, to think logically.

Now onto the second question: can programmers who have had their brain modified by all that logical thought ever “go back” to their former ways of thinking. This is a more difficult question which I don’t think I’ll be able to answer at this time, but I’ll give some of my thoughts on the issue.

We’ve already established that consistent logical thought alters the brain. And a brain’s thinking is largely dependent on its structure. So…does that mean that brains altered by intense logical thought will never be able to “return” to their previous patterns of thought? What about a partial return to previous modes of thought? I’ll get back to this.

Why is any of this Important?

Am I just philosophizing over useless ideas again? It wouldn’t surprise me, or anyone who knew me, if I was, but this stuff is important. Human beings are both rational and emotional creatures. Our rationality and emotions are often in conflict with one another, but, even with this in consideration, most people would argue that both rationality and emotionality are requirements of human survival. And I think a point can be made that rationality should be able to overshadow emotionality when the times call for it, and vice versa. So, do intensely logical brains marginalize emotionality? Will brains shaped by intense logic be able to “return” to previous patters of thought?

We know that use and disuse of the brain affects its shape and functionality. And that certain areas of the brain are structured to perform certain tasks. The question is whether logical brains necessarily marginalize emotionality. To this, I say “nay”. Logical brains can be just as emotional as non-logical brains. And this is a good thing.

Keep in mind that although the brain is an interconnected mass of gray matter, it is segregated into different work areas. Some areas, such as the left prefrontal cortex, are reserved for logic and reasoning while the brain’s right hemisphere and amygdala are reserved for creative thought and emotion. While intensely logical thought will work to develop those areas of the brain associated with logical thought, logical thinking doesn’t necessarily diminish the parts of the brains associated with emotionality.

However, it should be noted that people who focus all of their thought on logic, and neglect emotionality, will see a decrease in the ability to use emotionality and, thus, tend to think only in a strictly logical manner. It’s a use it or lose it bargain. So, if a person wants to keep a healthy balance of logic and emotion, then that person should work on improving both regions of the brain. A well-rounded and well-proportioned brain is the greatest survival tool of all.

Summary

In order for computer programmers to understand computers, they must, to some degree, think like a computer. Thinking like a computer, which involves thinking logically, necessarily conditions the brain to think logically. However, this “reshaping” of the brain doesn’t necessarily mean that the emotional parts of the brain will be necessarily diminished in capacity, since the brain is divided into logic regions and emotion regions. Still, neglecting to use the emotion centers of the brain does reduce their size and functioning so logical thinkers should endeavor to spend some time to develop those important emotional regions. The brain is an integrated machine whose capacities must be well-exercised if it is to be of greatest benefit to its user.