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Published on: February 16, 2011
In defense of representation
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas, Austin 78712, USA. markman@psy.utexas.edu
Cognitive Psychology
|March 16, 2000
Summary
Cognitive science debates computational paradigms by examining representations. The study finds issues stem from specific representation properties, not the concept itself, suggesting internal mediating states are key.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Psychology
- Artificial Intelligence
Background:
- The computational paradigm has dominated cognitive science and AI since the cognitive revolution.
- Recent debates question this paradigm, focusing on the concept of representation rather than computation itself.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze objections to representation in cognitive science.
- To clarify that issues arise from specific properties of representations, not the core idea.
- To identify a superordinate category of internal information-carrying states mediating cognitive processing.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of objections to the notion of representation in psychological theories.
- Examination of five properties that can be attributed to mediating states.
- Discussion of the importance of these properties in various cognitive models.
Main Results:
- Objections to representation are tied to specific properties, not the fundamental concept.
- All theorists acknowledge internal information-carrying states that mediate cognitive processing.
- These mediating states form a superordinate category of representations.
Conclusions:
- The debate over representation in cognitive science can be reframed by focusing on specific properties.
- Internal mediating states are a crucial, universally accepted component of cognitive processing.
- Methodological lessons are drawn to guide future research in cognitive modeling.
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