The Sciences of the Artificial

Herbert Simon's 'The Sciences of the Artificial' introduces the concept of bounded rationality, critiquing idealized models of perfect rationality in classical economics.

The book argues that real humans operate under bounded rationality due to limited information, cognitive processing power, attention, memory, and time.

Simon suggests that we don't optimize, but satisfice, looking for solutions that are good enough rather than searching endlessly for the absolute best.

He emphasizes that human thinking is adapted to the complexity of the environment and the limitations of our own cognitive machinery.

The book explores the implications of bounded rationality for decision-making, problem-solving, and the design of artificial systems, highlighting the importance of understanding human cognitive limits.