Why Turing Machines are important

[pierce15]

Main Question or Discussion Point

Can someone explain to me, one with extremely limited knowledge of the concept of Turing Machines, what these hypothetical machines help us understand or accomplish in computer science?

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

Here is an interesting piece from the MIT review
http://www.technologyreview.com/review/426834/turings-enduring-importance/