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Mental phenomena are explained in terms of physical processes in the brain. Most cognitive scientists are PHYSICALISTS or MATERIALISTS - everything in the world is made up of physical substance.
PHYSICALISTS would deny SUBSTANCE DUALISM - the view that the mind is a soul, some kind of non-extended and non-physical object. Substance dualism is of course a part of most religious doctrines.
We have no a priori reason to think that substance dualism must be wrong. Only experiments can help us decide which approach is better. What is true is that the physicalist approach has been more successful in improving our understanding of the mind.
to:
* Mental phenomena are explained in terms of physical processes in the brain. Most cognitive scientists are PHYSICALISTS (or MATERIALISTS) - everything in the world is made up of physical substance.
* PHYSICALISTS would deny SUBSTANCE DUALISM - the view that the mind is a soul, some kind of non-extended and non-physical object. Substance dualism is of course a part of most religious doctrines.
* We have no a priori reason to think that substance dualism must be wrong. Only experiments can help us decide which approach is better. What is true is that the physicalist approach has been more successful in improving our understanding of the mind.
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* The mind is extremely complicated - around 100 billion inter-connected neurons
* Vertical and horizontal division of labour is needed to understand the mind.
Horizontal division of labour: Mental phenomena involves language, perception, reasoning, emotions, etc. Different scientists focus on different areas. Vertical division of labour: Each mental phenomena can be investigated at various levels - the task level, the level of algorithm, and the level of neural mechanism.
to:
The mind is extremely complicated
* Around 100 billion inter-connected neurons
Vertical and horizontal division of labour is needed to understand the mind.
* Horizontal division of labour: Mental phenomena involves language, perception, reasoning, emotions, etc. Different scientists focus on different areas.
* Vertical division of labour: Each mental phenomena can be investigated at [[Main.Levels of Description|various levels]] - the task level, the level of algorithm, and the level of neural mechanism.
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* Both normal and abnormal (prosopagnosia, autism) cases are studied.
to:
* Both normal and abnormal (prosopagnosia, autism) cases, human and [[Main.AnimalCognition|animal minds]] are studied.
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* Dominant methodology in cogsci: interdisciplinary approach, explains the mind in terms of parallel, interacting computational systems of neurons.
to:
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!!1. Cogsci is interdisciplinary
The mind is extremely complicated - around 20 billion inter-connected neurons
Vertical and horizontal division of labour is needed to understand the mind.
Horizontal division of labour: Mental phenomena involves language, perception, reasoning, emotions, etc. Different scientists focus on different areas. Vertical division of labour: Each mental phenomena can be investigated at various levels - the task level, the level of algorithm, and the level of neural mechanism.
Some of the disciplines of cogsci:
* Psychology - cognitive psychology, developmental psychology
* Linguistics - syntax, semantics, phonology
* Neuroscience - brain structures, localization
* Computer science - AI, computer models
* Philosophy - theoretical foundations
!!2. Cogsci is materialist
to:
!!1. Cogsci is materialist
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!!2. Cogsci is interdisciplinary
* The mind is extremely complicated - around 100 billion inter-connected neurons
* Vertical and horizontal division of labour is needed to understand the mind.
Horizontal division of labour: Mental phenomena involves language, perception, reasoning, emotions, etc. Different scientists focus on different areas. Vertical division of labour: Each mental phenomena can be investigated at various levels - the task level, the level of algorithm, and the level of neural mechanism.
Some of the disciplines of cogsci:
* Psychology - cognitive psychology, developmental psychology
* Linguistics - syntax, semantics, phonology
* Neuroscience - brain structures, localization
* Computer science - AI, computer models
* Philosophy - theoretical foundations
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* SPECIALIZATION not incompatible with PLASTICITY
to:
* Cognitive science is more like reverse engineering - understanding a complex system by identifying the functions of different parts and see how they interact.
* SPECIALIZATION not incompatible with PLASTICITY.
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Deleted lines 70-76:
!What is the difference between cognitive science and psychology?
Brief answer
* Cognitive science is more like reverse engineering the mind to discover its architecture.
* So less emphasis on social aspects and applications.
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!!Definition: Cognitive science is the science of mind and behavior.
* What Cognitive Science is not: mind reading.
!!Feature #1: Cognitive science studies mind and behavior
* All sorts of [[mental states]] (belief, emotions), processes (reasoning, speech), phenomena (consciousness), and behavior (motion)
to:
Definition: Cognitive science is the science of mind and behavior.
!!Feature #1: Cognitive science studies mind and behavior.
* All sorts of [[mental states]] (beliefs, emotions), processes (reasoning, speech), phenomena (consciousness), and behavior (motion, facial expressions, speech).
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!!Feature #2: Cognitive science is a science
but have to be tested by experiments and observations.
to:
!!Feature #2: Cognitive science is a science.
* Empirical testability: Theories and hypotheses in cogsci are not armchair speculations. They should be [think:sci/hd.php|supported by strong evidence].
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* All sorts of mental states (belief, emotions), processes (reasoning, speech), phenomena (consciousness), and behavior (motion)
to:
* All sorts of [[mental states]] (belief, emotions), processes (reasoning, speech), phenomena (consciousness), and behavior (motion)
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!More details about methodology
1. Cogsci is interdisciplinary
to:
!Themes in explanation
!!1. Cogsci is interdisciplinary
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to:
!!2. Cogsci is materialist
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to:
Changed line 54 from:
4. Mental processes are explained in terms of parallel computations in the brain
to:
!!4. Mental processes are explained in terms of parallel computations in the brain
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5. Most mental processes are unconscious
to:
!!5. Most mental processes are unconscious
Changed lines 10-13 from:
Definition: Cognitive science is the science of mind and behavior. What does this imply?
Feature #1: Cognitive science studies mind and behavior
to:
!!Definition: Cognitive science is the science of mind and behavior.
* What Cognitive Science is not: mind reading.
!!Feature #1: Cognitive science studies mind and behavior
Changed lines 19-22 from:
Feature #2: Cognitive science is a science
* Theories and hypotheses in cogsci are not armchair speculations but have to be tested by experiments and observations.
* Types of experiments: brain scans, psychophysics experiments, studies of cognitive deficits, reaction time, computer simulation, ...
to:
!!Feature #2: Cognitive science is a science
* Empirical testability: Theories and hypotheses in cogsci are not armchair speculations but have to be tested by experiments and observations.
* Varieties of experimental approaches: brain scans, psychophysics experiments, studies of cognitive deficits, reaction time, computer simulation, ...
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What is cognitive science?
to:
!What is cognitive science?
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Changed lines 14-16 from:
* All sorts of mental states (belief, emotions), processes (reasoning, speech), phenomena (consciousness), and behavior (motion)
* Both normal and abnormal (prosopagnosia, autism) cases are studied.
to:
* All sorts of mental states (belief, emotions), processes (reasoning, speech), phenomena (consciousness), and behavior (motion)
* Both normal and abnormal (prosopagnosia, autism) cases are studied.
Changed lines 19-22 from:
* Theories and hypotheses in cogsci are not armchair speculations but have to be tested by experiments and observations.
* Types of experiments: brain scans, psychophysics experiments, studies of cognitive deficits, reaction time, computer simulation, ...
* Dominant methodology in cogsci: interdisciplinary approach, explains the mind in terms of parallel, interacting computational systems of neurons.
to:
* Theories and hypotheses in cogsci are not armchair speculations but have to be tested by experiments and observations.
* Types of experiments: brain scans, psychophysics experiments, studies of cognitive deficits, reaction time, computer simulation, ...
* Dominant methodology in cogsci: interdisciplinary approach, explains the mind in terms of parallel, interacting computational systems of neurons.
Added line 24:
Changed lines 34-39 from:
* Psychology - cognitive psychology, developmental psychology
* Linguistics - syntax, semantics, phonology
* Neuroscience - brain structures, localization
* Computer science - AI, computer models
* Philosophy - theoretical foundations
to:
* Psychology - cognitive psychology, developmental psychology
* Linguistics - syntax, semantics, phonology
* Neuroscience - brain structures, localization
* Computer science - AI, computer models
* Philosophy - theoretical foundations
Changed lines 48-50 from:
* The brain is a complex system with different functional parts, e.g. visual areas, language, reasoning, ...
* SPECIALIZATION not incompatible with PLASTICITY
to:
* The brain is a complex system with different functional parts, e.g. visual areas, language, reasoning, ...
* SPECIALIZATION not incompatible with PLASTICITY
Changed lines 54-59 from:
* Perception - acquiring real-time information about the surrounding environment.
* Language use - making use of information about syntax, semantics and phonology.
* Reasoning - combining different sources of information, deriving new information, testing consistency of information, etc.
* Action - making use of information in action planning and guidance.
* Memory - storing and retrieving information
to:
* Perception - acquiring real-time information about the surrounding environment.
* Language use - making use of information about syntax, semantics and phonology.
* Reasoning - combining different sources of information, deriving new information, testing consistency of information, etc.
* Action - making use of information in action planning and guidance.
* Memory - storing and retrieving information
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* We have lots of different beliefs at any given time, but we are not aware of all of them at the same time.
* We are not aware of how we retrieve information from memory, how we recognize faces, ...
to:
* We have lots of different beliefs at any given time, but we are not aware of all of them at the same time.
* We are not aware of how we retrieve information from memory, how we recognize faces, ...
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* Cognitive science is more like reverse engineering the mind to discover its architecture.
* So less emphasis on social aspects and applications.
to:
* Cognitive science is more like reverse engineering the mind to discover its architecture.
* So less emphasis on social aspects and applications.
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Readings
* [Required] http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/cognitive-science/
* [Required] A brief intro from Berkeley cogsci programme
* Thagard, Paul (1996) Mind : Introduction to Cognitive Science Cambridge, Mass. MIT Press. [accessible from netlibrary.com]
* Howard Gardner The Mind's New Science: A History of the Cognitive Revolution
What is cognitive science?
Definition: Cognitive science is the science of mind and behavior. What does this imply?
Feature #1: Cognitive science studies mind and behavior
* All sorts of mental states (belief, emotions), processes (reasoning, speech), phenomena (consciousness), and behavior (motion)
* Both normal and abnormal (prosopagnosia, autism) cases are studied.
Feature #2: Cognitive science is a science
* Theories and hypotheses in cogsci are not armchair speculations but have to be tested by experiments and observations.
* Types of experiments: brain scans, psychophysics experiments, studies of cognitive deficits, reaction time, computer simulation, ...
* Dominant methodology in cogsci: interdisciplinary approach, explains the mind in terms of parallel, interacting computational systems of neurons.
More on methodology
1. Cogsci is interdisciplinary
The mind is extremely complicated - around 20 billion inter-connected neurons
Vertical and horizontal division of labour is needed to understand the mind.
Horizontal division of labour: Mental phenomena involves language, perception, reasoning, emotions, etc. Different scientists focus on different areas. Vertical division of labour: Each mental phenomena can be investigated at various levels - the task level, the level of algorithm, and the level of neural mechanism.
Some of the disciplines of cogsci:
* Psychology - cognitive psychology, developmental psychology
* Linguistics - syntax, semantics, phonology
* Neuroscience - brain structures, localization
* Computer science - AI, computer models
* Philosophy - theoretical foundations
2. Cogsci is materialist
Mental phenomena are explained in terms of physical processes in the brain. Most cognitive scientists are PHYSICALISTS or MATERIALISTS - everything in the world is made up of physical substance.
PHYSICALISTS would deny SUBSTANCE DUALISM - the view that the mind is a soul, some kind of non-extended and non-physical object. Substance dualism is of course a part of most religious doctrines.
We have no a priori reason to think that substance dualism must be wrong. Only experiments can help us decide which approach is better. What is true is that the physicalist approach has been more successful in improving our understanding of the mind.
3. The mind is modular
* The brain is a complex system with different functional parts, e.g. visual areas, language, reasoning, ...
* SPECIALIZATION not incompatible with PLASTICITY
4. Mental processes are explained in terms of parallel computations in the brain
Information processing in the mind
* Perception - acquiring real-time information about the surrounding environment.
* Language use - making use of information about syntax, semantics and phonology.
* Reasoning - combining different sources of information, deriving new information, testing consistency of information, etc.
* Action - making use of information in action planning and guidance.
* Memory - storing and retrieving information
The distinctive feature of a lot of mental processes is that they involve complex information processing. But complex information processing is best explained by computations and representations. So we have reasons to believe that mental processes should be explained by computations in the brain. There are mental representations that encode information, and there are mental processes that operate on such representations.
5. Most mental processes are unconscious
We are not consciously aware of much of our mental processes.
* We have lots of different beliefs at any given time, but we are not aware of all of them at the same time.
* We are not aware of how we retrieve information from memory, how we recognize faces, ...
FAQ - What is the difference between cognitive science and psychology?
Brief answer
* Cognitive science is more like reverse engineering the mind to discover its architecture.
* So less emphasis on social aspects and applications.