A black-and-white portrait of a man with a friendly, approachable smile, wearing a suit, white shirt, and striped tie. His relaxed expression and professional attire suggest he is an accomplished academic or business professional, likely from the mid-20th century. The background, with bookshelves, adds an intellectual context to the image.
A black-and-white portrait of a man with a friendly, approachable smile, wearing a suit, white shirt, and striped tie. His relaxed expression and professional attire suggest he is an accomplished academic or business professional, likely from the mid-20th century. The background, with bookshelves, adds an intellectual context to the image.

Herbert A. Simon

Historical

Historical

Jun 15, 1916

-

Feb 9, 2001

A black-and-white portrait of a man with a friendly, approachable smile, wearing a suit, white shirt, and striped tie. His relaxed expression and professional attire suggest he is an accomplished academic or business professional, likely from the mid-20th century. The background, with bookshelves, adds an intellectual context to the image.

Herbert A. Simon

Historical

Historical

Jun 15, 1916

-

Feb 9, 2001

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Herbert Alexander Simon was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1916. He was one of the most prolific scientists of the twentieth century whose work touched various fields, including economics, cognitive psychology, artificial intelligence, and political science. His main area of study was decision-making in organizations, which he covered in an interdisciplinary manner.

The concept of "bounded rationality" introduced by Simon revolutionized the understanding of human decision-making among economists and cognitive scientists. Instead of the rational model that posits that people always make the best choice, Simon said that people work within the constraints of the information they have and their abilities, which is why they 'satisfice' instead of maximize. This concept made him receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978.

Simon’s childhood was influenced by his father, an electrical engineer and an independent patent attorney, and his mother, a pianist. He developed an interest in science at an early age, mainly because of the books in economics and psychology he read. Simon received his BA and PhD in political science at the University of Chicago. He was soon recognized as a man of ideas and as a person who did not hesitate to combine ideas from different disciplines. This approach was to become a characteristic feature of his work.

One of Simon's most important contributions to modern science was the creation of artificial intelligence (AI). He and his co-worker Allen Newell created the first AI programs, the Logic Theorist and the General Problem Solver. For this work, he was awarded the Turing Award in 1975, one of the most prestigious awards in computer science. His participation in AI research stemmed from his conviction that computers could mimic human thinking, which he passionately defended throughout his life.

Simon worked for most of his career at Carnegie Mellon University, where he played a significant role in establishing the School of Computer Science. His work focused on such issues as problem-solving and decision-making, theories of organizations, and systems. Simon was also an active supporter of public administration reform. He participated in forming the Economic Cooperation Administration, which implemented the aid under the Marshall Plan. He was not only an academician but also worked under President Lyndon Johnson's Science Advisory Committee and has been awarded many times, including the National Medal of Science in 1986.

Herbert Simon died in 2001, but his concepts are still well-rooted in the disciplines he contributed to. His contributions to bounded rationality, artificial intelligence, and decision-making are still relevant today, making his work cross-disciplinary.

Quotes

"The human mind is a learning and memory machine in terms of the way it is designed."

"Bounded rationality reveals that the decision-making process could be better but adequate."

"Management decision-making is the central process of contemporary organization. In an ideal world, everything is perfect, and rationality is perfect, but in the real world, we must satisfy ourselves."

"Machines will be able to do any work that a man can do, within the next twenty years."

"As it has been rightly said, 'Problem solving is the core of thinking.'"

"It is a shift toward creating computers that can think like human beings."

"The measure of rationality of a person depends on the constraints of his environment."

"It's impossible to optimize and optimize more; we do what is available."

"In problem-solving, the emphasis is on searching for solutions rather than the best ones."

"My research has always been about decision-making in the context of complexity."

"This is the truth that organizations accept the bounded rationality of the human mind."

"The concept of human cognition can be described as a complex interaction between memory and reasoning."

"Machines will be as intelligent as humans, which is just around the corner."

"If you want to understand people, you need to know what is beyond the line."

FAQ

What is Herbert Simon best known for?

Simon is most famous for his theory of 'bounded rationality,' which transformed rationality theories in economics and cognitive psychology.

What is bounded rationality?

Bounded rationality is a concept that alludes to the fact that decision-making is constrained by information, thinking ability, and time, and therefore, people make acceptable decisions rather than the best ones.

What did Simon do for the development of artificial intelligence?

Simon also created early AI programs with Allen Newell, including the Logic Theorist and the General Problem Solver, which mimicked human reasoning and decision-making.

What was the reason that Simon received the Nobel Prize?

He was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978 for contributing to economic organization decision-organization satisficing. Satisficing is a decision-making model put forward by Simon in which an individual, due to bounded rationality, chooses the first acceptable solution rather than the best solution.

In what ways did Simon contribute to the development of organization theory?

Simon's contribution to organizational theory and his book Administrative Behavior focused on decision-making in management and influenced the development of modern public administration.

In what other fields did Simon have an impact?

The General Problem Solver, created by Simon and Newell, was one of the first AI programs to aim at imitating human problem-solving and can be considered a breakthrough in AI development.

What is the General Problem Solver?

The General Problem Solver, created by Simon and Newell, was one of the first AI programs to aim at imitating human problem-solving and can be considered a breakthrough in AI development.

What was Simon's perspective on human cognition?

Simon thought that the human mind could be viewed as an information processor, and decision-making was influenced by the limitations of human memory and the amount of processing that could be done.

What were the implications of Simon's work on behavioral economics?

Simon's theory of decision-making, called bounded rationality, paved the way for behavioral economics because it demonstrated that humans are not rational, as the classical economic theory presumed.

What is the Simon management theory?

Simon's decision-making theory proposes the concept of bounded rationality, which means that people can make decisions within certain limitations. The theory focuses on psychological aspects and helps solve many unaddressed problems.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Herbert Alexander Simon was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1916. He was one of the most prolific scientists of the twentieth century whose work touched various fields, including economics, cognitive psychology, artificial intelligence, and political science. His main area of study was decision-making in organizations, which he covered in an interdisciplinary manner.

The concept of "bounded rationality" introduced by Simon revolutionized the understanding of human decision-making among economists and cognitive scientists. Instead of the rational model that posits that people always make the best choice, Simon said that people work within the constraints of the information they have and their abilities, which is why they 'satisfice' instead of maximize. This concept made him receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978.

Simon’s childhood was influenced by his father, an electrical engineer and an independent patent attorney, and his mother, a pianist. He developed an interest in science at an early age, mainly because of the books in economics and psychology he read. Simon received his BA and PhD in political science at the University of Chicago. He was soon recognized as a man of ideas and as a person who did not hesitate to combine ideas from different disciplines. This approach was to become a characteristic feature of his work.

One of Simon's most important contributions to modern science was the creation of artificial intelligence (AI). He and his co-worker Allen Newell created the first AI programs, the Logic Theorist and the General Problem Solver. For this work, he was awarded the Turing Award in 1975, one of the most prestigious awards in computer science. His participation in AI research stemmed from his conviction that computers could mimic human thinking, which he passionately defended throughout his life.

Simon worked for most of his career at Carnegie Mellon University, where he played a significant role in establishing the School of Computer Science. His work focused on such issues as problem-solving and decision-making, theories of organizations, and systems. Simon was also an active supporter of public administration reform. He participated in forming the Economic Cooperation Administration, which implemented the aid under the Marshall Plan. He was not only an academician but also worked under President Lyndon Johnson's Science Advisory Committee and has been awarded many times, including the National Medal of Science in 1986.

Herbert Simon died in 2001, but his concepts are still well-rooted in the disciplines he contributed to. His contributions to bounded rationality, artificial intelligence, and decision-making are still relevant today, making his work cross-disciplinary.

Quotes

"The human mind is a learning and memory machine in terms of the way it is designed."

"Bounded rationality reveals that the decision-making process could be better but adequate."

"Management decision-making is the central process of contemporary organization. In an ideal world, everything is perfect, and rationality is perfect, but in the real world, we must satisfy ourselves."

"Machines will be able to do any work that a man can do, within the next twenty years."

"As it has been rightly said, 'Problem solving is the core of thinking.'"

"It is a shift toward creating computers that can think like human beings."

"The measure of rationality of a person depends on the constraints of his environment."

"It's impossible to optimize and optimize more; we do what is available."

"In problem-solving, the emphasis is on searching for solutions rather than the best ones."

"My research has always been about decision-making in the context of complexity."

"This is the truth that organizations accept the bounded rationality of the human mind."

"The concept of human cognition can be described as a complex interaction between memory and reasoning."

"Machines will be as intelligent as humans, which is just around the corner."

"If you want to understand people, you need to know what is beyond the line."

FAQ

What is Herbert Simon best known for?

Simon is most famous for his theory of 'bounded rationality,' which transformed rationality theories in economics and cognitive psychology.

What is bounded rationality?

Bounded rationality is a concept that alludes to the fact that decision-making is constrained by information, thinking ability, and time, and therefore, people make acceptable decisions rather than the best ones.

What did Simon do for the development of artificial intelligence?

Simon also created early AI programs with Allen Newell, including the Logic Theorist and the General Problem Solver, which mimicked human reasoning and decision-making.

What was the reason that Simon received the Nobel Prize?

He was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978 for contributing to economic organization decision-organization satisficing. Satisficing is a decision-making model put forward by Simon in which an individual, due to bounded rationality, chooses the first acceptable solution rather than the best solution.

In what ways did Simon contribute to the development of organization theory?

Simon's contribution to organizational theory and his book Administrative Behavior focused on decision-making in management and influenced the development of modern public administration.

In what other fields did Simon have an impact?

The General Problem Solver, created by Simon and Newell, was one of the first AI programs to aim at imitating human problem-solving and can be considered a breakthrough in AI development.

What is the General Problem Solver?

The General Problem Solver, created by Simon and Newell, was one of the first AI programs to aim at imitating human problem-solving and can be considered a breakthrough in AI development.

What was Simon's perspective on human cognition?

Simon thought that the human mind could be viewed as an information processor, and decision-making was influenced by the limitations of human memory and the amount of processing that could be done.

What were the implications of Simon's work on behavioral economics?

Simon's theory of decision-making, called bounded rationality, paved the way for behavioral economics because it demonstrated that humans are not rational, as the classical economic theory presumed.

What is the Simon management theory?

Simon's decision-making theory proposes the concept of bounded rationality, which means that people can make decisions within certain limitations. The theory focuses on psychological aspects and helps solve many unaddressed problems.

Biography

FAQ

Quotes

Biography

Herbert Alexander Simon was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1916. He was one of the most prolific scientists of the twentieth century whose work touched various fields, including economics, cognitive psychology, artificial intelligence, and political science. His main area of study was decision-making in organizations, which he covered in an interdisciplinary manner.

The concept of "bounded rationality" introduced by Simon revolutionized the understanding of human decision-making among economists and cognitive scientists. Instead of the rational model that posits that people always make the best choice, Simon said that people work within the constraints of the information they have and their abilities, which is why they 'satisfice' instead of maximize. This concept made him receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978.

Simon’s childhood was influenced by his father, an electrical engineer and an independent patent attorney, and his mother, a pianist. He developed an interest in science at an early age, mainly because of the books in economics and psychology he read. Simon received his BA and PhD in political science at the University of Chicago. He was soon recognized as a man of ideas and as a person who did not hesitate to combine ideas from different disciplines. This approach was to become a characteristic feature of his work.

One of Simon's most important contributions to modern science was the creation of artificial intelligence (AI). He and his co-worker Allen Newell created the first AI programs, the Logic Theorist and the General Problem Solver. For this work, he was awarded the Turing Award in 1975, one of the most prestigious awards in computer science. His participation in AI research stemmed from his conviction that computers could mimic human thinking, which he passionately defended throughout his life.

Simon worked for most of his career at Carnegie Mellon University, where he played a significant role in establishing the School of Computer Science. His work focused on such issues as problem-solving and decision-making, theories of organizations, and systems. Simon was also an active supporter of public administration reform. He participated in forming the Economic Cooperation Administration, which implemented the aid under the Marshall Plan. He was not only an academician but also worked under President Lyndon Johnson's Science Advisory Committee and has been awarded many times, including the National Medal of Science in 1986.

Herbert Simon died in 2001, but his concepts are still well-rooted in the disciplines he contributed to. His contributions to bounded rationality, artificial intelligence, and decision-making are still relevant today, making his work cross-disciplinary.

Quotes

"The human mind is a learning and memory machine in terms of the way it is designed."

"Bounded rationality reveals that the decision-making process could be better but adequate."

"Management decision-making is the central process of contemporary organization. In an ideal world, everything is perfect, and rationality is perfect, but in the real world, we must satisfy ourselves."

"Machines will be able to do any work that a man can do, within the next twenty years."

"As it has been rightly said, 'Problem solving is the core of thinking.'"

"It is a shift toward creating computers that can think like human beings."

"The measure of rationality of a person depends on the constraints of his environment."

"It's impossible to optimize and optimize more; we do what is available."

"In problem-solving, the emphasis is on searching for solutions rather than the best ones."

"My research has always been about decision-making in the context of complexity."

"This is the truth that organizations accept the bounded rationality of the human mind."

"The concept of human cognition can be described as a complex interaction between memory and reasoning."

"Machines will be as intelligent as humans, which is just around the corner."

"If you want to understand people, you need to know what is beyond the line."

FAQ

What is Herbert Simon best known for?

Simon is most famous for his theory of 'bounded rationality,' which transformed rationality theories in economics and cognitive psychology.

What is bounded rationality?

Bounded rationality is a concept that alludes to the fact that decision-making is constrained by information, thinking ability, and time, and therefore, people make acceptable decisions rather than the best ones.

What did Simon do for the development of artificial intelligence?

Simon also created early AI programs with Allen Newell, including the Logic Theorist and the General Problem Solver, which mimicked human reasoning and decision-making.

What was the reason that Simon received the Nobel Prize?

He was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1978 for contributing to economic organization decision-organization satisficing. Satisficing is a decision-making model put forward by Simon in which an individual, due to bounded rationality, chooses the first acceptable solution rather than the best solution.

In what ways did Simon contribute to the development of organization theory?

Simon's contribution to organizational theory and his book Administrative Behavior focused on decision-making in management and influenced the development of modern public administration.

In what other fields did Simon have an impact?

The General Problem Solver, created by Simon and Newell, was one of the first AI programs to aim at imitating human problem-solving and can be considered a breakthrough in AI development.

What is the General Problem Solver?

The General Problem Solver, created by Simon and Newell, was one of the first AI programs to aim at imitating human problem-solving and can be considered a breakthrough in AI development.

What was Simon's perspective on human cognition?

Simon thought that the human mind could be viewed as an information processor, and decision-making was influenced by the limitations of human memory and the amount of processing that could be done.

What were the implications of Simon's work on behavioral economics?

Simon's theory of decision-making, called bounded rationality, paved the way for behavioral economics because it demonstrated that humans are not rational, as the classical economic theory presumed.

What is the Simon management theory?

Simon's decision-making theory proposes the concept of bounded rationality, which means that people can make decisions within certain limitations. The theory focuses on psychological aspects and helps solve many unaddressed problems.

Life and achievements

Early life

Herbert Simon was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 15, 1916, into a family that valued education and intellectual pursuit. His father, Arthur Simon, was an electrical engineer and patent attorney, and his mother, Edna, was a pianist. Simon’s interest in the social sciences began early, encouraged by his uncle Harold Merkel, who studied economics and introduced Simon to the works of key economic thinkers. From a young age, Simon showed a keen curiosity about science and human behavior, and he was particularly influenced by his uncle's books on economics, which would later inform his theories on decision-making.

Simon attended the University of Chicago in 1933, where he initially considered studying biology but ultimately chose to focus on social science and mathematics, given his color-blindness and difficulty with lab work. Simon was mentored by leading scholars like Henry Schultz, an econometrician, and Harold Lasswell, a political scientist, both of whom shaped his interdisciplinary approach. This education grounded Simon in both political science and economics, helping him to frame human behavior through a scientific and rational lens. By the time he completed his Ph.D. in 1943, Simon had begun to formulate the foundational concepts of bounded rationality and decision-making, which he would later develop into his most recognized contributions.

During his early academic career, Simon held various teaching and research positions, including a research assistant role at the University of California, Berkeley. His work focused on municipal administration and organizational behavior, laying the groundwork for his seminal book Administrative Behavior. Published in 1947, this work articulated his theories on organizational decision-making, arguing that real-world choices are constrained by available information and cognitive limitations. His early career achievements established Simon as a leading thinker in behavioral decision theory, foreshadowing his impact on both economics and psychology.

Legacy

Herbert Simon’s legacy spans several scientific fields, including economics, cognitive psychology, and artificial intelligence. His theory of bounded rationality reshaped economic models of human decision-making, offering a realistic alternative to the notion of complete rationality in economics. By recognizing that individuals and organizations often work within informational and cognitive constraints, Simon’s work allowed economists and policymakers to adopt more nuanced approaches to human behavior. This theory became especially influential in behavioral economics, challenging traditional models of optimization by focusing on how decisions are made in real-world contexts. Simon’s Nobel Prize in 1978 solidified his impact on economics, as his work remains foundational to studies in behavioral decision-making and organizational behavior.

In artificial intelligence, Simon, along with Allen Newell, created groundbreaking programs that simulated human problem-solving. Their work on the Logic Theory Machine and General Problem Solver helped define early AI research and introduced key concepts of information processing, which are still central to AI development today. Simon also contributed to cognitive psychology, proposing that expertise arises from acquiring structured "chunks" of knowledge through years of practice. His studies on problem-solving, cognition, and learning set the stage for understanding human expertise and how it develops, laying the groundwork for future research on skill acquisition and cognitive development.

Simon's interdisciplinary contributions continue to influence fields as diverse as economics, computer science, and psychology. His work at Carnegie Mellon University helped establish it as a leading center for artificial intelligence and cognitive science. Simon’s emphasis on empirical, interdisciplinary approaches and his belief in the practical application of theory have left a lasting impact on how researchers approach complex problems across disciplines. His models and theories remain essential in discussions of decision-making, cognitive limits, and human-machine interaction, underscoring his place as one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century.

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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
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Your donation today shapes the future of how families and friends connect.
You will become a featured Ambassador.
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Milestone moments

Jun 15, 1916

Birth of a Visionary
Herbert Alexander Simon was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the United States, and was part of a family that supported academic and artistic endeavours. His father, an electrical engineer, and his mother, a pianist, gave him the best environment that encouraged him to explore the world.
Since childhood, Simon has always been fascinated with science and mathematics; in high school, he was already contemplating people's behaviour.

Thanks to his uncle, Harold Merkel, Simon was introduced to economics and psychology at a young age, which was the foundation of his future career.
He was most influenced by his high academic achievement in Milwaukee Public Schools, which ignited his passion for learning about decision-making among humans.
These early experiences set the stage for Simon's later pioneering research in decision-making, artificial intelligence, and economics.

Jan 10, 1936

B.A. holder from the University of Chicago
Simon also received his BA in political science in 1936 at the University of Chicago.
While at the university, he was under the tutelage of some of the most distinguished scholars, including Henry Schultz, an economist, and Harold Lasswell, a political scientist.

These mentors influenced Simon in developing his concern with decisions within organizations.
Over the years, Simon steadily developed an interest in decision-making under conditions of uncertainty.
This interest led him to study political science and economics further, which led him to develop his theories on bounded rationality.

May 16, 1947

Publishes Administrative Behavior
Simon’s major work, Administrative Behavior, was published in 1947.
Drawing from his doctoral thesis, the book addressed decision-making in organizations and provided a foundation for his future research in economics and cognitive psychology.

In this book, Simon developed the idea of bounded rationality, which disapproves the rationality of human decisions.
Administrative Behavior eventually became a recognized text in organizational theory, and it continues to be so today.
Simon contributed significantly to understanding how managers and other decision-makers operate when information is scarce and cognitive abilities are limited.

May 16, 1975

Receives the Turing Award
For his work in artificial intelligence, Simon was awarded the Turing Award in 1975 with his partner Allen Newell.
The two had jointly developed the Logic Theorist and General Problem Solver, two of the first AI programs that mimicked human problem-solving.

These innovations showed that machines could mimic some of what goes on in the human mind, a revolutionary concept at the time.
The Turing Award solidified Simon’s position as a founder of artificial intelligence and cognitive science.
His faith in the possibility of AI mimicking human thought patterns impacted generations of computer scientists and AI researchers.

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