Concepts at the Interface

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

Abstract Research on concepts has concentrated the way people apply online, when presented with a stimulus. Just as important, however, is use of offline, planning what to do or thinking about case. There strong evidence that inferences driven by conceptual thought draw heavily special-purpose resources: sensory, motoric, affective, and evaluative. At same time, afford general-purpose recombination support domain-general reasoning processes—phenomena have long been focus philosophers. growing consensus theory must encompass both kinds process. This book shows how are able act an interface between systems. Concept-driven can take advantage complementary costs benefits each. The lays out empirically-based account different ways in which takes us new conclusions underpins planning, decision-making, action. It also spells three useful implications account. First, it allows reconstruct commonplace idea draws meaning concept. Second, offers insight into human cognition avoids frame problem complementary, less discussed, ‘if-then problem’ for nested processing dispositions. Third, metacognition concept-driven various ways. framework developed elucidates makes especially powerful cognitive resource.

Language: Английский

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Perceiving Topological Relations

Psychological Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 18, 2025

There are many ways to describe and represent the visuospatial world. A space can be described by its euclidean properties—the size of objects, angles boundaries, distances between them. also in nonspatial terms: One could explain layout a city order streets. Somewhere between, topological representations—such as those commonly depicted public-transit maps—capture coarse relational structure without precise detail, offering relatively efficient, low-dimensional way capturing spatial content. Here, we ask whether human adults quickly automatically perceive such relations. In six experiments, show that differences simple features influence range visual tasks from object matching number estimation search. We discuss possibility relations kind primitive supports representation.

Language: Английский

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Journey planning: a cartography of practical reasoning

Philosophical Explorations, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 23

Published: Feb. 17, 2025

Different researchers from psychology and neuroscience state that navigation involves the manipulation of cognitive maps graphs. In this paper, I will argue navigating – specifically, journey planning can be conceived as a process practical reasoning. First, constitutes case means-end reasoning involving inferences with cartographic representations. Then, output functions an instrumental belief in More deliver rule plays normative role spatial cognition. This approach motivates pluralist conception reasoning, stating might run through different representational formats processes.

Language: Английский

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Where did real representations go? Commentary on: The concept of representation in the brain sciences: The current status and ways forward by Favela and Machery

Mind & Language, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 26, 2025

Luis Favela and Edouard Machery provide a summary of survey they previously performed on how the term representation is used in brain sciences by neuroscientists, psychologists philosophers. They then propose, based results, that as likely not referring to any ontologically real thing imprecision its usage should only be tolerated but fact encouraged it serves promote fruitful comparative work between areas research all use term. I argue this sad fate for concept deep important representation.

Language: Английский

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Concepts as an Interface

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 117 - 154

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

Abstract Concepts act as an interface between general-purpose conceptual thought and special-purpose informational models. A concept is a ‘plug-and-play’ device connecting deliberative thinking to simulations in sensory, motor, affective, evaluative systems. Concept-driven starts with conceptually structured thought. This drives the construction of ‘suppositional scenario’—an interconnected representation situation built up using For example, ‘will chair fit my car?’ prompts mental simulation assessing spatial configurations. Conclusions are expressed back facilitate this working memory labels that sustain manipulate representations, while also plugging into compositional structures for content-general composition reasoning. gives concepts crucial interfacing role. Evidence supports providing such access, combination control. framework explains power human thought—flexibly combining construct integrated scenarios from which new conclusions can be drawn.

Language: Английский

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Concluding Thoughts

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 211 - 228

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

Abstract This chapter summarises the book’s key arguments about nature of concepts and their role in human cognition. It emphasises that act as an interface between domain-general, logical reasoning content-specific computations special-purpose systems. Conceptual thought orchestrates inferences across these systems to construct rich, multi-modal amodal informational models. Deliberation involves manipulating models anticipate outcomes make choices, going beyond merely reacting stimuli. Concepts enable flexible recombination representations while retaining connections experience-based knowledge. hybrid system allows humans engage sophisticated planning inference. The power cognition emerges from interaction conceptual are central unlocking special

Language: Английский

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Thinking with Concepts

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 26

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

Abstract This chapter introduces the topic of conceptual thinking. Conceptual thinking involves conscious, deliberate thought processes that rely on working memory and are subject to cognitive load. Concepts mental representations serve as freely-recombinable components thoughts. When combined in memory, concepts provide access a variety information stored other systems, allowing construction rich, cross-domain models situations. Inference includes both step-by-step reasoning non-local draw conclusions from larger or whole. act an interface between general-purpose, broadly-logical special-purpose informational represent domains like space social relations. Thinking brings these elements together integrated ‘cognitive playground’. Metacognition monitors controls by assessing confidence concepts, information, inferences involved. The book develops ideas into novel, empirically-grounded account explains central features human cognition inference.

Language: Английский

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Figure Credits

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

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The Frame Problem and the If-Then Problem

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 155 - 176

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

Abstract This chapter argues that human cognition manages to solve the notorious frame problem (the of relevance-based search) by relying on concepts interface between special-purpose informational models and general-purpose reasoning. Deep neural networks avoid building in assumptions relevance, but eventually face limits. Storing explicit memories reintroduces searching memory for relevance. The concept-driven architecture offers a hybrid solution. Special-purpose systems generate relevant considerations which reasoning operates. Their state spaces allow search along multiple semantic dimensions. can approximate isotropic search. Concepts compose these combinatorially. explains how partly avoids, solves, problem.

Language: Английский

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Informational Models

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 87 - 116

Published: Aug. 9, 2024

Abstract This chapter discusses the variety of ways that information can be represented in order to support planning, prospection, and inference—here referred as ‘informational models’. It outlines several types, focusing on key features representational structure computational process. These include domain-specific perceptual reinforcement learning systems; ‘model-based’ systems rely representing causal structure; structural representations cognitive maps; relational reasoning with concepts; using one relation stand for another; conceptual models domains like number, natural kinds, causation. The informational differ along various dimensions: organized vs. representation; content-specific content-general computations; local non-local inferences; whether inferences are automatic or deliberative; model itself just its outputs relied deliberation. diversity raises important question how thought integrate such heterogeneous models—answered next chapter.

Language: Английский

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