What Can Be Automated? What Cannot Be Automated?

Abstract

The question of what can and what cannot be automated challenged engineers, scientists, and philosophers even before the term automation was defined. While this question may also raise ethical and educational issues, the focus here is scientific. In this chapter the limits of automation and mechanization are explored and explained in an effort to address this fundamental conundrum. The evolution of computer languages to provide domain-specific solutions to automation design problems is reviewed as an illustration and a model of the limitations of mechanization. The current state of the art and a general automation principle are also provided.