Computation is viewed as a process of deduction based on a set of rules (01:56:00-01:56:28). It involves taking an input, performing some form of calculation or operation according to a predefined set of instructions, and producing an output. The notion of computation can also extend to more specialized areas such as consciousness, where it is described as a specialized form of computation characterized by computational boundedness and a single thread of experience (01:56:16-01:56:28).

The concept of computational boundedness suggests that there are limitations to what can be computed within a given time or with available resources, which relates to the idea of computational irreducibility. This means that to understand or predict certain systems or phenomena, one must perform all the necessary computations without shortcuts (03:42:30-03:42:58).

Computation is fundamental to the operation of programs and computers, where one typically writes code with the intention of achieving a specific outcome, exploring the "natural science of programs" (00:12:00-00:12:28). The ability to understand and utilize computation has been democratized over time, allowing more people to access computational tools without needing expert knowledge, described as "de-druidify[ing] access to computation" (02:37:30-02:37:59).

In the context of tools like Wolfram Alpha, computation is used to translate natural language queries into formal operations that can be processed by a computer to provide answers, illustrating that computation has become a broad framework for formalizing our understanding of the world (00:45:00-00:45:58).