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The Dynamical Hypothesis in Cognitive Science

Gelder, Tim van The Dynamical Hypothesis in Cognitive Science.

Short Abstract:

Recent years have seen increasing use of dynamics in cognitive science. If theeart of the dominant computational approach is the hypothesis that cognitivegents are digital computers, the heart of the alternative dynamical approachs the hypothesis that cognitive agents are dynamical systems. This targetrticle attempts to articulate the dynamical hypothesis and to defend it as anmpirical alternative to the computational hypothesis. Digital computers andynamical systems are characterized as specific kinds of systems. The dynamic alypothesis has two major components: the nature hypothesis (cognitive agents are dynamical systems) and the knowledge hypothesis (cognitive agentsan be understood dynamically). A wide range of objections to the generalypothesis are then rebu tted. The conclusion is that cognitive systems may welle dynamical systems, and only sustained empirical research in cognitivecience will determine the extent to which that is true.

Long Abstract:

Recent years have seen increasing use of dynamics in cognitive science. If theeart of the dominant computational approach is the hypothesis that cognitivegents are digital computers, the heart of the alternative dynamical approachs the hypothesis that cognitive agents are dynamical systems. This targetrticle attempts to articulate the dynamical hypothesis and to defend it as anmpirical alternative to the computational hypothesis. Digital computers andynamical systems are characterized as specific kinds of systems. The dynamic alypothesis has two major components: the nature hypothesis (cognitive agents are dynamical systems) and the knowledge hypothesis (cognitive agentsan be understood dynamically). A wide range of objections to the generalypothesis are then rebu tted. The conclusion is that cognitive systems may welle dynamical systems, and only sustained empirical research in cognitivecience will determine the extent to which that is true.

Keywords:	cognition, systems, dynamical systems, computers, computational systems,omputability, modeling, time.
Subjects:	Psychology: Applied Cognitive Psychology Psychology: Cognitive Psychology Computer Science: Dynamical Systems Computer Science: Neural Nets Neuroscience: Neural Modelling
ID code:	bbs00000468
Deposited by:	Tim van Gelder on 01 May 2001