In a soci ety where computers have become ubiquitous, it is necessary to develop a deeper understanding of the nature of computer programs, not just from the te chnical viewpoint, but from a broader historical a nd philosophical perspective.
\n\nA histor ical awareness of the evolution of programming not only helps to clarify the complex structure of co mputing, but it also provides an insight in what p rogramming was, is and could be in the future. Phi losophy, on the other hand, helps to tackle fundam ental questions about the nature of programs, prog ramming languages and programming as a discipline.
\n\nAn interdisciplinary approach is nece ssary for understanding programming with its multi faceted nature. As such, we welcome participation by researchers and practitioners coming from a div ersity of backgrounds, including historians, philo sophers, computer scientists and professional soft ware developers.
\nFor the sy mposium, we invite submission of two-page extended abstracts (including footnotes, but excluding ref erences). Accepted papers will be given a 30 minut e presentation slot including discussion. We inten d to publish selected papers in a special journal issue following the symposium.
\n\nIn addi tion to submissions in a wide range of areas tradi tional for HaPoP (outlined below), we especially w elcome submissions that explore the nature of scie ntific progress with respect to computer programmi ng as a discipline. We are interested in investiga tions concerning the methodology of computer progr amming, whether it follows a form of scientific me thod that allows it to increase its problem solvin g ability, whether its development more is akin to science, engineering or rather art, and what exam ples from the history of programming can be provid ed to support either argument.
\n