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Unification Strategies in Cognitive Science

Miłkowski, Marcin (2016) Unification Strategies in Cognitive Science. Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric, 48 (1). pp. 13-33. ISSN 2199-6059

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Abstract

Cognitive science is an interdisciplinary conglomerate of various research fields and disciplines, which increases the risk of fragmentation of cognitive theories. However, while most previous work has focused on theoretical integration, some kinds of integration may turn out to be monstrous, or result in superficially lumped and unrelated bodies of knowledge. In this paper, I distinguish theoretical integration from theoretical unification, and propose some analyses of theoretical unification dimensions. Moreover, two research strategies that are supposed to lead to unification are analyzed in terms of the mechanistic account of explanation. Finally, I argue that theoretical unification is not an absolute requirement from the mechanistic perspective, and that strategies aiming at unification may be premature in fields where there are multiple conflicting explanatory models.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Miłkowski, Marcin0000-0001-7646-5742
Keywords: unification, integration, explanation, mechanistic explanation
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
Specific Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User: Dr. Marcin Miłkowski
Date Deposited: 06 Jan 2019 02:05
Last Modified: 06 Jan 2019 02:05
Item ID: 15559
Journal or Publication Title: Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric
Official URL: http://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2016-0053
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1515/slgr-2016-0053
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
Specific Sciences > Psychology
Date: 2016
Page Range: pp. 13-33
Volume: 48
Number: 1
ISSN: 2199-6059
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15559

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