Center for Cognitive Studies
Department of Philosophy Faculty of Humanities University of Chile
diversity topics and approaches that Clark presented with clarity and erudition and critical analysis that makes them do not, in my view, definitively conclude the need to theorize about cognition understood as that bag of tricks regimented not governed by the needs of survival of organisms is the mindware . Such a general conception of the mind-which for reasons I hope will become apparent later not call theory, but theoretical framework -plausible because it satisfies a range of desiderata . Such desiderata attempt to express a consensus on those phenomena Field investigators consider it desirable that a theory explains. The formulation of desiderata presupposes on the part of the formula, the theories on offer or partially meet, or simply fail to satisfy. Apart from a critical examination of offers theoretical and methodological issues, the proposal satisfies the desiderata also contains methodological requirements which, if implemented, would provide reliable evidence for these assumptions. Overall the proposal meets the desiderata is not a theory itself, but a provisional theoretical framework that serves as a guide unit for generating hypotheses and designing procedures to reliably collect reliable evidence for them.
Although similar to what is usually called a research program, the theoretical framework that satisfies the desiderata of the latter differs in that the theoretical scheme is aimed at strengthening a particular research framework already established, but rather to provide the theoretical and methodological guidelines to ultimately establish a new framework that differs in its essential aspects from those currently in force in the field and that the proposed scheme considers explanatorily insufficient. The failure of the latter is evident when a series of findings or discoveries that can not be explained subsumed by them. While such discoveries or findings can not be incorporated into existing frameworks or by virtue of it strongly suggest that there are problems with the type of research conducted under the assumptions of these frameworks, it is considered that the evidence provided by these findings is yet sufficient to discard and replace the traditional frameworks inestigación. To the extent that the findings from different disciplines and are based on evidence from different methodologies also do not exhibit unifying character. The theoretical framework that satisfies the desiderata proposed the eventual unification theory and methodology of these findings.
the above is in line with the situation can be observed in the field of cognitive science research in the last ten years or so. It seems that part of computer architecture research / representational is not capable of subsuming the empirical findings from artificial life, cognition as dynamical systems, robotics situated and distributed cognition, among other approaches. It seems that while the framework of connectionist research is a good modeling and simulation tool compatible with the above approach is very similar in some methodological orientations to representational architecture / classical computer, so it would not list many of the theoretical and methodological assumptions underlying the findings of the alternative theories. What is required then is to move towards a new theoretical framework that subsumes, giving coherence and unity to the diversity of findings that call into question the traditional research framework.
I should note that this is not just a philosophical problem or theoretical, but has a practical impact in the long run is central to the development of research in cognitive science. Argue that there are certain findings that are suspicious research framework is wrong or, at best, inadequate, not a reason enough pragmatically as well as Quine suggests on Peircean foundations for a community-of researchers to completely discard research practices that frame. Conceivably, then, that a unitary theoretical framework that meets the explanatory desiderata that have emerged from a critical study of the field and reveals also the effects-in terms costs and benefits, not merely of truth and falsity, which would assume the fact that guideline scheme specific research field and adjacent areas of research, has a pragmatically effective step that can lead to a change in habits research and, ultimately, in establishing a new research framework.
In short, the strategy of proposing a number of desiderata a comprehensive and unified theoretical framework on certain salient properties of cognition to be explained should meet proper is a strategy that has become common in this recently in cognitive science, especially by philosophers. [i] Not a negligible strategy, we must be advised of what the limits of theoretical frameworks produced by your application. First, the theoretical framework that satisfies the desiderata is not a theory subject to the processes of evidence collection usual. The scheme is postulated on the basis of a series of more specific hypotheses for which there is an experimental design that has some evidence, although it is arguable that the evidence collected could be interpreted as supporting the theoretical framework.
This is consistent with Clark's proposal. You can say that its purpose is to provide both a general understanding about the multiple facets of cognition that subsumes a coherent and unified not only the multiplicity of theories of cognition alternatives to traditional computational scheme, but also the experimental results and / or forms of modeling that have significant implications in the field. Thus, the resulting scheme is not only a plausible theory about what might be the cognition, but also a systematic methodological strategies that can provide evidence for believing that this general picture of cognition is to some degree true.
The procedure shapes the desiderata the theoretical framework should meet if it is to be assessed as suitable can be described through the following stages (note that I do not intend here reach a definitive or exhaustive):
- used as a criterion for the establishment of such properties that they come across disciplines that have provided findings or arguments persuasive or both that are not subsumed by the framework of existing research;
- provide some compelling reasons to sensibly justify why it is desirable that a unified theory explain the behavior of the diversity of properties contained in desiderata;
- articulate a theory scheme that would meet the desiderata in question;
- establish whether the theory proposed scheme covers an acceptable level, interesting and crucial experimental evidence-ie, evidence that is considered by the community researchers as a 'discovery' or 'discovery' in various subareas of research in cognitive science, [ii] it could lead to significant changes in the hegemonic framework or lead to its replacement;
- determine whether the theoretical framework may include without altering its unifying these experimental findings and discoveries of various kinds;
- determine whether the proposed theoretical framework subsumes explained, at least in principle, a greater number of desiderata formulated other theories or theories outline on offer in the field;
- if the theory is proposed, covering more desiderata that other theories, then the theory or outline of theory proposed would potentially greater explanatory power.
The procedure I described above is a good heuristic strategy especially when it aims at developing a theoretical and methodological large enough so that it meets the function of being a unitary guideline not only provides consistency research, but also allows the extent that satisfies the desiderata, assess progress or progress of cognitive science.
(Continued)
[i] Some noteworthy cases that use this type of strategy are, among others, Block 1976, Laurence and Margolis 1999 and Prinz 2004.
[ii] This is experimental research pertaining to cognitive neuroscience, to some form of artificial intelligence, some interesting mechanical implementation of robotics, the psychophysical or some form of experimental psychology, among others.
