Coelho Mollo, Dimitri (2021) Why go for a computation-based approach to cognitive representation. [Preprint]

Preview

Text WHYGOF~2.PDF - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (233kB) | Preview

Abstract

The traditional view in (philosophy of) cognitive science is that computation in cognitive systems conceptually depends on representation: to compute is to manipulate representations. I argue that accepting the non-semantic teleomechanistic view of computation lays the ground for a promising alternative strategy, in which computation helps to explain and naturalise representation, rather than the other way around. I show that this computation-based approach to representation presents six decisive advantages over the traditional view. I claim that it can improve the two most influential current theories of representation, teleosemantics and structural representation, by providing them with precious tools to tackle some of their main shortcomings. In addition, the computation-based approach opens up interesting new theoretical paths for the project of naturalising representation, in which teleology plays a role in individuating computations, but not representations.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Coelho Mollo, Dimitri dimitricmollo@gmail.com 0000-0002-0464-3535
Additional Information:	Preprint of an OpenAccess article in Synthese
Keywords:	representation in cognitive science; computation; mechanism; teleological functions; teleosemantics; structural representation; indeterminacy of content
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Computation Specific Sciences > Computation/Information Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User:	Dimitri Coelho Mollo
Date Deposited:	13 Mar 2021 00:07
Last Modified:	13 Mar 2021 00:07
Item ID:	18809
Official URL:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11229-0...
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-021-03097-5
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Computation Specific Sciences > Computation/Information Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations General Issues > Explanation
Date:	2021
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/18809

Available Versions of this Item

• Why go for a computation-based approach to cognitive representation. (deposited 19 Feb 2021 16:21)
  • Why go for a computation-based approach to cognitive representation. (deposited 13 Mar 2021 00:06)
    • Why go for a computation-based approach to cognitive representation. (deposited 13 Mar 2021 00:07) [Currently Displayed]

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Altmetric.com

Actions (login required)

View Item