Why would one read the papers of masters? There are at least two reasons for doing so. First, by tracing the development of ideas of someone with true insight it is possible to see the roots of various developments, concepts, and even false starts. In short we see how the domain, as we know it today, emerged in the historical process. Second, it is dangerous if one does not know the past. One is prone to fall into the same potholes as the previous generations.
/lp/association-for-computing-machinery/book-review-formalizing-common-sense-papers-by-john-mccarthy-edited-by-gDGHUwDpl0