I can't be as confident about computer science as I can about biology. Biology easily has 500 years of exciting problems to work on. It's at that level.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Computer science has fewer enduring problems compared to biology.
- In plain terms
- Biology offers more long-term problems than computer science.
- What can you take from it?
- Recognize the limits of current scientific maturity.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Which field interests you more?
- Why might biology be more complex?
Another view
Computer science problems may evolve differently.
More from Donald Knuth
Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it.
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