Computationalism: New Directions

by Matthias Scheutz (Editor)

Classical computationalism -- -the view that mental states are computational states -- -has come under attack in recent years. Critics claim that in defining computation solely in abstract, syntactic terms, computationalism neglects the real-time, embodied, real-world constraints with which cognitive systems must cope. Instead of abandoning computationalism altogether, however, some researchers are reconsidering it, recognizing that real-world computers, like minds, must deal with issues of embodiment, interaction, physical implementation, and semantics.This book lays the foundation for a successor notion of computationalism. It covers a broad intellectual range, discussing historic developments of the notions of computation and mechanism in the computationalist model, the role of Turing machines and computational practice in artificial intelligence research, different views of computation and their role in the computational theory of mind, the nature of intentionality, and the origin of language.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published August 21, 2002

Reviews

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

AI and Cognitive Sciences have reached a halt. The prided models of mind and computation, the mind being based on the theoretical notion of computation, are fundamentally flawed and inconsistent. This book sets to explore this issue within cognitive science and AI through a series of essays by different very relevant/influential thinkers.

If you find the approaches of language-focused approaches to mind and the idea of a 'theory of computation' to be a paradoxical statement, this will be a good read