The “Philosophical Circle”: A Key Precursor in the History of Computational Thought in Argentina

Abstract

This paper aims to offer an approach to the intellectual trajectories of the figures who formed the “Philosophical Circle” or “Buenos Aires Circle” in the 1950s, and to trace the subsequent transformations in the debates around artificial intelligence that emerged within it. First, a brief literature review on the functioning of the Circle is presented. Then, Mario Bunge’s work on machine thinking is compared with that of Manuel Sadosky, in order to identify the changes that can be observed between the two. Results suggest: (1) that Sadosky’s early position closely aligns with Bunge’s, and (2) that by the 1970s, the mathematician incorporates an explanation of the historical reasons behind computational development, along with a critique of the inequality between developed centers and peripheral regions. Finally, the paper outlines possible directions for future research.