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Mapping The Mind - A Matter Of Logic?
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Bengt Hansson
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Keywords: Knowledge, Cognitive
content, Representation, Logic, Perception, memory,
Cognition, Gödel's theorem.
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Abstract: All too often, theories of the mind focus on
the problem of merely representing cognitive content, and in
doing so they assume that this content is propositional in
structure. In this essay I argue that a fundamental logical
result (which is considerably simpler than Gödel's
theorem, but of equal epistemological significance) proves
that there is no theory that simultaneously solves the
static problem of representation of content and the dynamic
problem of modelling the process of thought if the
propositional structure is retained. I therefore pursue two
routes. First I turn to psychology and critically review
what they have to say about the process of thinking, and
then I investigate the alternatives to the propositional
view and try to see how they fit with existing experimental
evidence.
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Click here
to obtain the paper in PDF format.
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Bengt Hansson, Bengt.Hansson@fil.lu.se
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Spinning Ideas, Electronic Essays
Dedicated to Peter Gärdenfors on His Fiftieth
Birthday
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