Chapter 2

Question 1

Mental representations:

Answer 1

-Things in the mind that stand for things in the world

Question 2

Mental Processes:

Answer 2

-Operations over representations
-“computations” ( or “activations” ) of representations

Question 3

What is an example of a representation

Answer 3

cinq = 5
V = 5
five = 5

They all “represent” the same content

Question 4

Representations as images:

Answer 4

They resemble what they are about (except for abstract ideas)

To know something is to have it: you represent “red ball” because you have red and ball as the visual properties

Question 5

Descartes, Hobbers, Hume:

Answer 5

• Mental representations are ideas
• these ideas take different forms (codes, images)

-These ideas enter into cognitive processes

Question 6

Mental processes are __ ( ___)

Answer 6

Mental processes are “calculations” (computations)

Question 7

Mental processes are “calculations” (computations) that are:

Answer 7

-Language-like
-Abstract
-Symbolic

Question 8

Mental processes are the very elements of ___

Answer 8

Thoughts / cognitive processes

Question 9

Mental images have been used as explanation for ___

Answer 9

Mental images have been used as explanation for mental processes for centuries

Question 10

(in regards to mental images), with our “minds eye” we are:

Answer 10

imagining - not seeing

Question 11

Imagination/thinking does not rely on the :

Answer 11

same principles as
perception

Question 12

Imagination/thinking does not rely on the same principles of perception, responses are based on:

Answer 12

KNOWLEDGE of what the resulting colours might be, not some form of reactivation of perceptual content

Question 13

Images ___ when perceived

Answer 13

Images NEED TO BE INTERPRETED when perceived

Question 14

If we were to store “raw” images, we would need to ___

Answer 14

REINTERPRET THEM IN RECALL

Question 15

If we were to store “raw” images, we would need to reinterpret them in recall, we would also need to rely on
____

Answer 15

If we were to store “raw” images, we would need to reinterpret them in recall. We would also need to rely on some CODE TO CALL THEM UP - which would have to be some form of TAG, METADATA, or DESCRIPTIONS

Question 16

mental processes can be thought as : ___

Answer 16

mental processes can be thought of as computation over representations

Question 17

Computations over symbolic representations are :

Answer 17

Operations driven by rules (syntax) –> reasoning

Question 18

We can think about computations within ___

Answer 18

we can think about computations within specialized cognitive systems such as language, vision, etc

Question 19

In regards to mental processes as computation over representations, the idea is that behind most perceptual or cognitive processes there are:

Answer 19

sets of rules governing the processes

Question 20

cognition = neurophysiology?

Answer 20

NO!

Question 21

Are our explanations INTRINSICALLY DEPENDENT on the nature of this physical device?

Answer 21

NO

Question 22

Should we reduce the cognitive explanation to a neurophysiological account of brain states?

Answer 22

NO

Question 23

Would an anatomical classification suffice to account for brain function (mind)?

Answer 23

NO

Question 24

How can we account for brain function (mind) without appealing to neurophysiology or neuroanatomy alone?

Answer 24

A few options in the market:
-Behaviourism
-Dualism (radical) : no connection between mind and body

Question 25

representations can be:

Answer 25

an equation, an abstract, a code, a description, an image …

Question 26

Hobbes thought of representations as:

Answer 26

putting together its properties (ex: grey cat), sets of features –> descriptive representation

Question 27

Berkeley and Hume thought of representations as:

Answer 27

imagistic representations (for visual things) –> abstract

Question 28

Mental images:

Answer 28

have been used as explanation for mental processes for centuries

Question 29

Modern view: perceptual and cognitive systems (some) work:

Answer 29

as a function of the “laws”/”rules” they follow

Question 30

(1’) P or Q
(2’) not Q
(3’) P

Answer 30

The process is carried out just in virtue of its form (or syntax or structure)! -> this is logical reasoning

Question 31

Machine Functionalism:

Answer 31

The behavior of the machine can be explained as a function of
§the machine’s (internal) states §the machine’s causal structure

Question 32

an information processing system (a physical system)

Answer 32

can “behave” just in virtue of its “rules and representations”

Question 33

Marr’s Three Levels

Answer 33

Computational theory:
Representation and Algorithm: Implementation:

Question 34

We can explain behavior (cognitive behavior) by:

Answer 34

Specifying the nature of the rules and representations a system encodes

Question 35

Computational theory:

Answer 35

The goal of the computation, what it is supposed to be about or to solve (e.g., Attention, Sentence Processing, Object Recognition)

Involves “translating” a general problem into information processing problem; identifying component processes;

the problem must be treatable using formal methods (e.g., using computational modeling) –> The more specific the model the better

Question 36

Representation and Algorithm:

Answer 36

Representations that the system manipulates
and how the system manipulates them n Types of representations used
p Are there different types of codes or only one? n Types of rules
p What kinds of actual rules / principle govern a given process: algorithms
n What kinds of processes are carried over
p How information is used and transformed in the course of a given process

Question 37

Implementation:

Answer 37

Physical instantiation: the hardware

The nature of the actual physical device
(The brain, the computer, Martian’s heart)
Where processes are realized ( E.g., functional anatomy)

How processes are realized ( E.g., neurophysiology)

How representations and processes are mapped onto neurological processes

Question 38

Computational theory:

Answer 38

The goal of the computation, what it is supposed to be about or to solve (e.g., Attention, Sentence Processing, Object Recognition)

Question 39

Representation and Algorithm:

Answer 39

Representations that the system manipulates and how it does it (What types of representations are used, What types of rules, What kinds of processes)

Question 40

Implementation:

Answer 40

Physical instantiation (the nature of the actual physical device - e.g., the brain, the computer)

Question 41

How is turing machine like human brain?

Answer 41

device for understanding human behaviour
highlights infine

Question 42

Cognitive Theory sees the brain as:

Answer 42

the “organ” of the Mind

Question 43

cognitive theory comprises:

Answer 43

(1) representationalism
(2) functionalism

Question 44

Representationalism (cognitive theory):

Answer 44

Emphasis on Mental
Representations

Question 45

functionalism (cognitive theory):

Answer 45

emergent properties

Question 46

Different Representationalist Schools:

Answer 46

Symbolic (Turing-like, computations)

Connectionist (“brain-like”, associations)

Question 47

Cognitive functions are largely
_____ of physical realization

Answer 47

independant

Question 48

Turing machines can be seen as:

Answer 48

powerful information processing devices

Question 49

Cognitive systems may work (in large part) as

Answer 49

Turing machines

Question 50

We can explain cognitive behavior by
appealing to

Answer 50

representations and rules

Question 51

Cognition is essentially

Answer 51

information processing

Question 52

Representations are:

Answer 52

codes (/symbols) carrying content or information

Question 53

Processes are:

Answer 53

computations carried over symbols

Question 54

Cognition:

Answer 54

information processing

Question 55

If cognition is information processing, and information processing can be realized by (non-brain) machines, then can machines think?

Answer 55

If thinking is computation (symbol processing following rules), then, yes, machines can think.

If there is more to thinking than computation, then no.

Question 56

computation

Answer 56

symbol processing following rules