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Animal cognition as the praxist views it
Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews
|January 1, 1985
Summary
Praxics, the study of behavior, offers insights into animal cognition, distinguishing it from psychology. Generativity theory aids in understanding and predicting intelligent behaviors in both animals and humans.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Cognitive Science
- Comparative Psychology
Background:
- The study of animal cognition is often debated, with some arguing it's an extension of human psychology.
- Behavioral phenomena observed in humans, indicative of cognition, are also present in nonhuman animals.
- Praxics, the scientific study of behavior, offers a distinct framework for understanding these phenomena.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the relationship between psychology and praxics in the context of animal cognition.
- To establish praxics as a legitimate biological science for studying behavior.
- To introduce Generativity Theory as a formal model for understanding intelligent behavior.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of behavioral phenomena across species.
- Application of Generativity Theory to engineered and predicted intelligent performances.
- Distinguishing the scope and methodologies of psychology and praxics.
Main Results:
- The study supports the view that animal cognition can and should be studied.
- Praxics is identified as a biological science, distinct from psychology's domain.
- Generativity Theory demonstrates utility in both engineering and predicting intelligent behaviors.
Conclusions:
- The distinction between psychology and praxics resolves questions surrounding animal cognition.
- Praxics provides a robust framework for studying behavior, including cognitive aspects.
- Generativity Theory offers a predictive and applicable model for intelligent performances in diverse species.
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