Favela, Luis H. and Machery, Edouard (2022) The Untenable Status Quo: The Concept of Representation in the Neural and Psychological Sciences. [Preprint]
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Abstract
The concept of representation is commonly treated as indispensable to research on brains, behavior, and cognition. We argue that not only is the concept of representation applied with considerable imprecision in such research, but it appears to be used in unclear and confused ways. We present results of a preregistered experiment aimed at making explicit what researchers mean by “representation.” Participants consisted of an international group of psychologists, neuroscientists, and philosophers (N = 736). Applying elicitation methodology, participants responded via an online survey platform to four experimental scenarios aimed at invoking applications of various representational concepts. While we find very little disciplinary variation in the application of “representation” and related concepts (e.g., “about,” “carry information,” “processing,” etc.), we show that researchers exhibit confusion about what counts as a representation and are uncertain about what sorts of brain activity involve representations or not. We argue on this basis that the concept of representation—especially in the neural and psychological sciences—should be reformed or eliminated from use. Consequently, the theoretical status quo concerning the concept of representation endorsed by many neuroscientists and psychologists is untenable.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Keywords: | representation, conceptual reform, information, scientific concepts | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations Specific Sciences > Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Psychology |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Luis H. Favela | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 17 Jul 2022 06:30 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 17 Jul 2022 06:30 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 20903 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations Specific Sciences > Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Psychology |
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| Date: | 14 July 2022 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20903 |
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