Physical Computation and Cognitive Science

Nir Fresco

doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41375-9

Physical Computation and Cognitive Science

Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

Abstract

This book presents a study of digital computation in contemporary cognitive science. Digital computation is a highly ambiguous concept, as there is no common core definition for it in cognitive science. Since this concept plays a central role in cognitive theory, an adequate cognitive explanation requires an explicit account of digital computation. More specifically, it requires an account of how digital computation is implemented in physical systems. The main challenge is to deliver an account encompassing the multiple types of existing models of computation without ending up in pancomputationalism, that is, the view that every physical system is a digital computing system. This book shows that only two accounts, among the ones examined by the author, are adequate for explaining physical computation. One of them is the instructional information processing account, which is developed here for the first time.

Original language	American English
Place of Publication	Berlin; Heidelberg
Publisher	Springer
Number of pages	229
ISBN (Electronic)	3642413757, 9783642413759
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41375-9
State	Published - 2014
Externally published	Yes

Publication series

Name	Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational Ethics
Publisher	Springer
Volume	12

ULI publications

uli
AI (Artificial intelligence)
Artificial intelligence
Artificial thinking
Construction
Electronic brains -- Artificial intelligence
Engineering
Intellectronics -- Artificial intelligence
Intelligence, Artificial
Intelligent machines -- Artificial intelligence
Machine intelligence
Mind, Philosophy of
Mind, Theory of
Philosophy of mind
Theory of mind
Thinking, Artificial

Access to Document

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-41375-9

Cite this

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