The Computational Model of Mind: Metaphor, Misconception and Misdirection.
The computational model of mind is intended to serve as a metaphor for the way that the brain processes information which in turn guides behaviour. The computer metaphor is central to modern psychology and is widely perceived to facilitate a truly scientific means of examining and interpreting mental phenomena (Mackay & Petocz, 2010). The dominance of the computational model can be summed up by Fodor’s (1975) claim that it is “the only game in town”, which he repeated in 2008 in support of the enduring legitimacy of the statement and of its ubiquity across domains of science. The persistence of the computer model’s attractiveness to psychology can be attributed to a
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This allows cognitive scientists to conceive of the processes involved in human mental states and events as computational states of the brain that can be studied like those of a computer (Mackay & Petocz, 2010, Ben-Menahem, 2005). According to the computational model, the mind operates as the software, facilitating the processing of information via symbols and the brain is the hardware of the computer (Mackay & Petocz, 2010, Notterman, 2000). Within the computational model, information in the form of mental representations, is processed in the brain as symbols tokens with both syntactic and semantic properties (Worst, 1996). These form the input that enter the brain as information, where they are processed by the neurophysiology of the brain via cognitive functions (software) resulting in output (behaviour) (Notterman, 2000). Proponents of the computational model see psychology as the study of these computational processes, whereby mental phenomena are construed as objects that exist inside the mind of the cognisor (Boden, 1988). The computational model, and in particular Fodor’s (1975, 2008) “Computational Theory of Mind” (CTM) has emerged as the mainstream view advocated within the study of cognition (Worst, 1996). However, the
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Evolutionary psychology is a specialist field within the spectrum of psychological enquiry, which seeks to examine and understand some of the predominant reasoning behind the concept of why the human species, whilst biologically similar to other species on the planet, is so very distinct in terms of intelligence and mental progression; demonstrated by the multifaceted and complex social structures we have created. Primary to this domain of evolutionary psychological interest is the notion of ‘theory of mind’, which was developed and advocated by Premack and Woodruff (1978), and has been the topic of fierce discussion and analysis since. It has resulted in manifold research studies and commentaries, regarding the topic, from an extensive range of sources within the academic field of psychology. This essay intends to explore the concept of theory of mind, using examples and research studies to fathom its relevance, application and significance within evolutionary psychology as a whole.
Cognitive processes are the unseen systems used by our minds to complete tasks such as solving problems, recognising an object, or learning a language. These unseen mental processes take place in the brain, which is a complex piece of equipment often compared to a computer. When the internal workings of a computer are exposed, all that we see are microchips, circuit boards, hard drives and other assorted pieces, which, all work and ...
Whilst evaluating the cognitive approach to psychology there are many strengths such as that the cognitive approach takes an understanding of the influence from mental processes on one’s behaviour, focusing on an individual’s thinking patterns and their perception. This approach also relates to many known functions and operations that the human body performs such as memory and problem solving.
For years philosophers have enquired into the nature of the mind, and specifically the mysteries of intelligence and consciousness. (O’Brien 2017) One of these mysteries is how a material object, the brain, can produce thoughts and rational reasoning. The Computational Theory of Mind (CTM) was devised in response to this problem, and suggests that the brain is quite literally a computer, and that thinking is essentially computation. (BOOK) This idea was first theorised by philosopher Hilary Putnam, but was later developed by Jerry Fodor, and continues to be further investigated today as cognitive science, modern computers, and artificial intelligence continue to advance. [REF] Computer processing machines ‘think’ by recognising information
Fodor’s modularity thesis popularized faculty approaches to cognitive psychology. This theory bears a striking resemblance to the phenomenological theory that Merleau-Ponty proposed two decades earlier. Both theories employ a trichotomous functional architecture to explain cognition and view perception as a mid-level processing of information that lies between the world and consciousness. The key feature that differentiates the views is whether that middle level of processing is completely impenetrable by consciousness. If Fodor was to relax his strong position of the impenetrability of information in modules, modules could both be somewhat encapsulated and maintain a general independence from consciousness. Then only the degree of perception’s independance from consciousness would distinguish his theory from Merleau-Ponty’s. Currently, both theories can account for the substantive, outward, behavior of humans. Only the procedural behavior, the internal process, differentiates the theories. The conundrum of deciding between the theories is resolvable by an empirical critical experiment. While this will require more knowledge of cognitive psychology, current evidence suggests that Merleau-Ponty was correct and the mind is less encapsulated than Fodor's original claim.
Numerous speculations have been advanced to clarify the relationship between what we call your mind and your brain. They incorporate Jackson and Nagel 's journey to oppose recognizing what we call 'mental
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