Without computers, in the 17th century, we could classify the entire animal kingdom... there was this idea of the speciation, right? And now, all a search engine is is essentially the mathematical speciation of ideas - and these things really derive from the way that language is used and the way words relate.

Joshua Cohen’s quote draws a parallel between the classification of the animal kingdom in the 17th century and the modern processes of sorting and organizing ideas using computers and search engines. He points out that in the past, biologists like Carl Linnaeus categorized living organisms based on observable characteristics, creating a system of speciation. Today, Cohen suggests, search engines perform a similar task by organizing information—essentially the speciation of ideas—but in the context of the digital age, using algorithms and mathematical models to categorize and relate ideas.

Cohen's reference to search engines emphasizes how they serve as modern tools for organizing and classifying information in a way that mirrors the scientific methods of classification used in biology. The "mathematical speciation" he mentions points to the way algorithms group ideas or content based on patterns, keywords, and their relationships to one another. This reflects how computers have revolutionized our approach to managing knowledge, turning vast amounts of information into accessible, searchable structures.

The quote also touches on the relationship between language and the way ideas are categorized. Cohen acknowledges that the way we use words and language plays a significant role in how information is organized and understood by search engines. Just as biologists relied on descriptive language to differentiate species, modern search engines rely on language, keywords, and patterns to connect and categorize vast amounts of information on the web.

Originating from Cohen’s background in philosophy and technology, the quote reflects his deep understanding of the intersection between language, information theory, and modern computational systems. Cohen’s insight into how computers and language shape our understanding of the world underscores the growing complexity of digital organization and its impact on our access to knowledge.