Richmond, Andrew (2024) What is a Theory of Neural Representation For? [Preprint]

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Abstract

This paper asks how representational notions figure into cognitive science, especially neuroscience. Philosophers have a way of skipping over that question and going straight to another: what is neural representation? What is the property or relation that representational notions pick out? I argue that this is a mistake. Our ultimate questions, as philosophers of cognitive science, are about the function and epistemology of cognitive scientific explanations — in this case, explanations that use representational notions. To answer those questions we must understand what representational notions contribute to science: what they enable scientists to do or explain, and how. But I show that we can do this without raising traditional and vexing questions about the definition of neural representation, or the nature of a property or relation that notion picks out. Taking this approach, I defend a realist account of representational explanation that underwrites important connections between philosophy and neuroscience.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Richmond, Andrew arichmo8@uwo.ca 0000-0001-7824-7474
Keywords:	Cognitive Science, Representation, Scientific Explanation, Philosophy of Science
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Neuroscience General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Depositing User:	Andrew Richmond
Date Deposited:	03 Oct 2024 11:52
Last Modified:	03 Oct 2024 11:52
Item ID:	23994
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Philosophy of Science Specific Sciences > Neuroscience General Issues > Realism/Anti-realism
Date:	2 October 2024
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23994

Available Versions of this Item

• What is a Theory of Neural Representation For? [Blinded]. (deposited 12 Aug 2023 11:46)
  • What is a Theory of Neural Representation For? (deposited 17 Oct 2023 20:41)
    • What is a Theory of Neural Representation For? (deposited 03 Oct 2024 11:52) [Currently Displayed]

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