Advances in Multimedia and Interactive Technologies
Computationalism should not be the view that (human) cognition is computation; it should be the v... more Computationalism should not be the view that (human) cognition is computation; it should be the view that cognition (simpliciter) is computable. It follows that computationalism can be true even if (human) cognition is not the result of computations in the brain. If semiotic systems are systems that interpret signs, then both humans and computers are semiotic systems. Finally, minds can be considered as virtual machines implemented in certain semiotic systems, primarily the brain, but also AI computers.
William Perry's Scheme of Intellectual and Ethical Development. A journey along the 9 "... more William Perry's Scheme of Intellectual and Ethical Development. A journey along the 9 "Perry" positions (as modified by Belenky et al. 1986). William J. Rapaport. ...
1. Steven Pinker should be well-known to readers of this journal, not only for his research in li... more 1. Steven Pinker should be well-known to readers of this journal, not only for his research in linguistics and cognitive science, but for his semi-popular book, The Language Instinct (1994; for theM & M review, see Kemmerer 1995). For those of us who likedThe Language Instinct (as I did), Pinker now offers us the rest of the story: How the Mind Works , despite its inclusive-sounding title, literally complements its predecessor (cf. p. x), since it omits all discussion of language; thus, readers hoping for a user manual for the mind (and instructors hoping for a single-volume cognitive-science text) may be disappointed. One might have hoped for at least a chapter-length précis of the earlier book, though that would no doubt have made this 660-page tome even heftier. As it is, the book covers a wide range of topics: vision; computationalism; evolutionary psychology and natural selection; consciousness and qualia; intelligence; concepts and categories; the problem of other minds; reaso...
There are many branches of philosophy called “the philosophy of X”, where X = disciplines ranging... more There are many branches of philosophy called “the philosophy of X”, where X = disciplines ranging from history to physics. The philosophy of artificial intelligence has a long history, and there are many courses and texts with that title. Surprisingly, the philosophy of computer science is not nearly as well-developed. This article proposes topics that might constitute the philosophy of computer science and describes a course covering those topics, along with suggested readings and assignments. 1
Is the brain a digital computer? Searle says that this is meaningless; I say that it is an empiri... more Is the brain a digital computer? Searle says that this is meaningless; I say that it is an empirical question. Is the mind a computer program? Searle says no; I say: properly understood, yes. Can the operations of the brain be simulated on a digital computer? Searle says: trivially yes; I say yes, but that it is not trivial.
We present a computational analysis of de re, de ditto, and de se belief and knowledge reports. O... more We present a computational analysis of de re, de ditto, and de se belief and knowledge reports. Our analysis solves a problem first observed by Hector-Neri Castaiteda, namely, that the simple rule ‘(A knows that P) implies P ’ apparently does not hold If P contains a quasi-indexical. We present a single rule, in the context of a knowledge-representation and reasoning system, that holds for all P, including those containing quasi-indexicals. In so doing, we explore the difference between reasoning in a public communication language and in a knowledge-representation language, we demonstrate the importance of representing proper names explicitly, and we provide support for the necessity of considering sentences in the context of extended discourse (e.g., written narrative) in order to fully capture certain features of their semantics. 1
Paper folding can help in understanding some infinite sequences and in finding their limits. A si... more Paper folding can help in understanding some infinite sequences and in finding their limits. A simple physical model useful at all levels of ability is presented and infinite sequences of interest to senior high school students are explored.
Advances in Multimedia and Interactive Technologies
Computationalism should not be the view that (human) cognition is computation; it should be the v... more Computationalism should not be the view that (human) cognition is computation; it should be the view that cognition (simpliciter) is computable. It follows that computationalism can be true even if (human) cognition is not the result of computations in the brain. If semiotic systems are systems that interpret signs, then both humans and computers are semiotic systems. Finally, minds can be considered as virtual machines implemented in certain semiotic systems, primarily the brain, but also AI computers.
William Perry's Scheme of Intellectual and Ethical Development. A journey along the 9 "... more William Perry's Scheme of Intellectual and Ethical Development. A journey along the 9 "Perry" positions (as modified by Belenky et al. 1986). William J. Rapaport. ...
1. Steven Pinker should be well-known to readers of this journal, not only for his research in li... more 1. Steven Pinker should be well-known to readers of this journal, not only for his research in linguistics and cognitive science, but for his semi-popular book, The Language Instinct (1994; for theM & M review, see Kemmerer 1995). For those of us who likedThe Language Instinct (as I did), Pinker now offers us the rest of the story: How the Mind Works , despite its inclusive-sounding title, literally complements its predecessor (cf. p. x), since it omits all discussion of language; thus, readers hoping for a user manual for the mind (and instructors hoping for a single-volume cognitive-science text) may be disappointed. One might have hoped for at least a chapter-length précis of the earlier book, though that would no doubt have made this 660-page tome even heftier. As it is, the book covers a wide range of topics: vision; computationalism; evolutionary psychology and natural selection; consciousness and qualia; intelligence; concepts and categories; the problem of other minds; reaso...
There are many branches of philosophy called “the philosophy of X”, where X = disciplines ranging... more There are many branches of philosophy called “the philosophy of X”, where X = disciplines ranging from history to physics. The philosophy of artificial intelligence has a long history, and there are many courses and texts with that title. Surprisingly, the philosophy of computer science is not nearly as well-developed. This article proposes topics that might constitute the philosophy of computer science and describes a course covering those topics, along with suggested readings and assignments. 1
Is the brain a digital computer? Searle says that this is meaningless; I say that it is an empiri... more Is the brain a digital computer? Searle says that this is meaningless; I say that it is an empirical question. Is the mind a computer program? Searle says no; I say: properly understood, yes. Can the operations of the brain be simulated on a digital computer? Searle says: trivially yes; I say yes, but that it is not trivial.
We present a computational analysis of de re, de ditto, and de se belief and knowledge reports. O... more We present a computational analysis of de re, de ditto, and de se belief and knowledge reports. Our analysis solves a problem first observed by Hector-Neri Castaiteda, namely, that the simple rule ‘(A knows that P) implies P ’ apparently does not hold If P contains a quasi-indexical. We present a single rule, in the context of a knowledge-representation and reasoning system, that holds for all P, including those containing quasi-indexicals. In so doing, we explore the difference between reasoning in a public communication language and in a knowledge-representation language, we demonstrate the importance of representing proper names explicitly, and we provide support for the necessity of considering sentences in the context of extended discourse (e.g., written narrative) in order to fully capture certain features of their semantics. 1
Paper folding can help in understanding some infinite sequences and in finding their limits. A si... more Paper folding can help in understanding some infinite sequences and in finding their limits. A simple physical model useful at all levels of ability is presented and infinite sequences of interest to senior high school students are explored.
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