Origins & Early Life

Douglas Richard Hofstadter (born 15 February 1945) is an American cognitive and computer scientist whose research includes concepts such as the sense of self in relation to the external world, consciousness, analogy-making, strange loops, ambigrams, artificial intelligence, and discovery in mathematics and physics. His 1979 book Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid won the Pulitzer Prize for general nonfiction, and a National Book Award (at that time called The American Book Award) for Science. His 2007 book I Am a Strange Loop won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology. Hofstadter was born in New York City to future Nobel Prize-winning physicist Robert Hofstadter and Nancy Givan Hofstadter.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He grew up on the campus of Stanford University, where his father was a professor, and attended the International School of Geneva in 1958–59. He graduated with distinction in mathematics from Stanford University in 1965, and attended graduate school in mathematics, but dropped out after feeling unable to keep up in what he called a "hugely bitter blow to my ego", and "traumatic". Hofstadter received his PhD in physics from the University...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Anne Frank — Contemporary (Died in 1945) (1945): German-born diarist whose secret writings documented life in hiding during the Holocaust.
• Anne Murray — Contemporary (Born in 1945) (1945): Pioneering Canadian country and pop vocalist with a 40-year global career.
• Anton Webern — Contemporary (Died in 1945) (1945): Radical modernist composer of the Second Viennese School, known for atonal and twelve-tone techniques.
• Alexander Borodin — Shared historical date (02-15 · Died) (1887): Russian Romantic composer, chemist, and physician known for 'Prince Igor' and symphonies.
• Alfred North Whitehead — Shared historical date (02-15 · Born) (1861): Pioneering philosopher and mathematician who established Process Philosophy.
• Aung San Suu Kyi — Historical peer (Born in 1945) (1945): Prominent Burmese politician, diplomat, and Nobel Peace Laureate.
• Béla Bartók — Historical peer (Died in 1945) (1945): Pioneering Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist of the 20th century.
• Aaliyah — Historical peer (Born in 1979) (1979): Pioneering R&B artist known for redefining urban pop and hip hop sounds.
• Adam Brody — Historical peer (Born in 1979) (1979): American actor known for roles in The O.C., Shazam!, and StartUp.
• Albert Ellis — Historical peer (Died in 2007) (2007): Pioneering figure in psychotherapy, founder of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
• 1945 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1945
• February 15 (02-15) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 15