In this episode of pplpod, we explore the fascinating and complex life of Norbert Wiener (1894–1964), the American mathematician and philosopher who paved the way for the Information Age.

We trace Wiener’s journey from a child prodigy who entered Tufts College at age 11 and earned a Harvard PhD by 18 to his legendary tenure at MIT,,. We discuss his rigorous and sometimes difficult upbringing under his father, Leo Wiener, who utilized unique home-schooling methods and instilled a "Tolstoyan ethic" in his son,.

Listeners will learn about:

• The Birth of Cybernetics: How Wiener’s World War II work on anti-aircraft technology led him to formalize "cybernetics," the science of communication and control in both animals and machines,.
• The Mathematics of Noise: His pioneering work on stochast ...