Newell and Simon: the Logic Theory Machine

What changed

Symbolic proof search became a concrete computational problem-solving method.

Scientific scope

The 1956 Newell–Simon report; Shaw's implementation, later theorem provers and general AI are separate.

Evidence

The linked sources identify this contribution and its scope. WRS has not independently reconstructed the scientific claims. The target is the two-author 1956 report and paper. J. C. Shaw’s essential implementation and programming work is documented separately and is not converted into coauthorship of this exact report.

Contributors

• Allen Newell · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.
• Herbert A. Simon · SCIENCE: Named source author of the scoped work; individual effort shares are not measured.

• Newell and Simon, The Logic Theory Machine (RAND P-868)
• Newell and Shaw, Programming the Logic Theory Machine (1957)

Provisional WRS assessment, edition 2026-10-16.1. Independent expert calibration is pending. This grade does not certify correctness or assign ownership.

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