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Three cognitive mechanisms for knowledge tracking
1Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2A, 1353Copenhagen, Denmarkdk@psy.ku.dk.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|November 19, 2021
Summary
This study separates knowledge from beliefs by examining cognitive mechanisms. It proposes three key mechanisms for understanding how humans process and share information.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
- Psychology
Background:
- The distinction between knowledge and beliefs is crucial in cognitive science.
- Existing models often conflate these two concepts.
- A clearer separation is needed to understand cognitive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a cognitive mechanism-based distinction between knowledge and beliefs.
- To elaborate on the specific cognitive processes involved in knowledge and belief formation.
- To support Phillips et al.'s proposal for separating knowledge and beliefs.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of cognitive mechanisms.
- Discussion of three distinct cognitive mechanisms: reality tagging, meta-representation, and disposition attribution.
- Argumentation for specifying the knowledge-belief distinction at the cognitive mechanism level.
Main Results:
- Identified three distinct cognitive mechanisms relevant to understanding knowledge and beliefs.
- Proposed that 'tagging one's own representations' with shared reality is key.
- Highlighted 'representing others' representations' (meta-representing knowledge) and 'attributing dispositions' as crucial mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- The distinction between knowledge and beliefs is best understood through specific cognitive mechanisms.
- These mechanisms provide a framework for differentiating how individuals process information and form mental states.
- This approach offers a more precise understanding of social cognition and information attribution.
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