Semiotic Systems, Computers, and the Mind: How Cognition Could Be Computing
International Journal of Signs and Semiotic Systems 2 (1):32-71 (2012)
| Abstract | In this reply to James H. Fetzer’s “Minds and Machines: Limits to Simulations of Thought and Action”, I argue that computationalism should not be the view that (human) cognition is computation, but that it should be the view that cognition (simpliciter) is computable. It follows that computationalism can be true even if (human) cognition is not the result of computations in the brain. I also argue that, if semiotic systems are systems that interpret signs, then both humans and computers are semiotic systems. Finally, I suggest that minds can be considered as virtual machines implemented in certain semiotic systems, primarily the brain, but also AI computers. In doing so, I take issue with Fetzer’s arguments to the contrary. | |||||||||
| Keywords | computationalism semiotic systems cognition syntax semantics | |||||||||
| Categories | ||||||||||
| Options |
|
|||||||||
Download options| PhilPapers Archive |
  |
| External links |
 Try with proxy. |
| Through your library | Configure |
Similar books and articlesWilliam J. Rapaport (1998). How Minds Can Be Computational Systems. Journal of Experimental and Theoretical Artificial Intelligence 10 (4):403-419.
Lorenzo Magnani (2009). Beyond Mind: How Brains Make Up Artificial Cognitive Systems. Minds and Machines 19 (4):477-493.
James H. Fetzer (2000). Computing is at Best a Special Kind of Thinking. In The Proceedings of the Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy, Volume 9: Philosophy of Mind. Charlottesville: Philosophy Doc Ctr.
James H. Fetzer (1997). Thinking and Computing: Computers as Special Kinds of Signs. Minds and Machines 7 (3):345-364.
Colin Wight (2004). Theorizing the Mechanisms of Conceptual and Semiotic Space. Philosophy of the Social Sciences 34 (2):283-299.
Darren Whobrey (2001). Machine Mentality and the Nature of the Ground Relation. Minds and Machines 11 (3):307-346.
Philip Brey (2005). The Epistemology and Ontology of Human-Computer Interaction. Minds and Machines 15 (3-4).
Michael Forest (2007). Peirce and Semiotic Foundationalism. Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society 43 (4):728 - 744.
Gualtiero Piccinini (2010). The Resilience of Computationalism. Philosophy of Science 77 (5):852-861.
Stuart C. Shapiro (1995). Computationalism. Minds and Machines 5 (4):467-87.
Vincent C. Müller (2009). Symbol Grounding in Computational Systems: A Paradox of Intentions. Minds and Machines 19 (4):529-541.
Bruce J. MacLennan (1994). Words Lie in Our Way. Minds and Machines 4 (4):421-37.
Peter Brödner (2006). The Misery of Digital Organisations and the Semiotic Nature of IT. AI and Society 23 (3):331-351.
Eric Dietrich (1999). Dynamic Systems and Paradise Regained, or How to Avoid Being a Calculator. [REVIEW] J. Of Experimental and Theoretical AI 11 (4):473-478.
Analytics
Monthly downloads |
Added to index2012-06-11Total downloads27 ( #45,781 of 549,084 )Recent downloads (6 months)16 ( #3,889 of 549,084 )How can I increase my downloads? |
My notes
Discussion
