Christopher D. Green (1998) Connectionist Nets are Only Good Models if we Know What They Model
. Psycoloquy: 9(23) Connectionist Explanation (20)
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Psycoloquy 9(23): Connectionist Nets are Only Good Models if we Know What They Model
CONNECTIONIST NETS ARE ONLY GOOD MODELS IF WE KNOW WHAT THEY MODEL
Reply to Lee et al. on Connectionist-Explanation
Christopher D. Green
Department of Psychology
York University
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada
http://www.yorku.ca/faculty/academic/christo
christo@yorku.ca
Abstract
Lee, Van Heuveln, Morrison, & Dietrich (1998) suggest,
incorrectly, that I argued (Green 1998a) that connectionist
networks will not be scientific models unless and until they
capture every aspect of neural activity. What I argued was that
unless and until connectionists come to terms with the idea that
connectionist networks must model SOMETHING (and neural activity
currently seems to be the best candidate, but it need not be the
only one) they are not models of anything at all, and therefore may
have little role to play in cognitive science.
Keywords
artificial intelligence, cognition, computer modelling,
connectionism, epistemology, explanation, methodology, neural nets,
philosophy of science, theory.
References
- Clark, Andy (1993) Associative Engines. Cambridge: MIT Press.
- Downes, S. (1992) The importance of models in theorising. Proceedings of the Philosophy of Science Association (Vol. 1, pp. 142-153).
- Giere, R. (1988) Explaining Science: A Cognitive Approach. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
- Green, C.D. (1998a) Are connectionist models theories of cognition? PSYCOLOQUY 9(4) ftp://ftp.princeton.edu/pub/harnad/Psycoloquy/1998.volume.9/ psyc.98.9.04.connectionist-explanation.1.green
- Green, C.D. (1998b) Statistical analyses do not solve connectionism's problem: Reply to Medler & Dawson on Connectionist-Explanation. PSYCOLOQUY 9(15) ftp://ftp.princeton.edu/pub/harnad/Psycoloquy/1998.volume.9/ psycoloquy.98.9.15.connectionist-explanation.12.green
- Green, C.D. (1998c) Problems with the implementation argument: Reply to O'Brien on Connectionist-Explanation PSYCOLOQUY 9(8) ftp://ftp.princeton.edu/pub/harnad/Psycoloquy/1998.volume.9/ psycoloquy.98.9.08.connectionist-explanation.5.green
- Lee, C., van Heuveln, B. Morrison, C.T., & Dietrich, E. (1998) Why connectionist nets are good models: Commentary on Green on connectionist-explanation PSYCOLOQUY 9(17) ftp://ftp.princeton.edu/pub/harnad/Psycoloquy/1998.volume.9/ psycoloquy.98.9.17.connectionist-explanation.14.green
- Medler, D. A. & Dawson, M. R. W. (1998) Connectionism and cognitive theories: Commentary on Green on connectionist- explanation. PSYCOLOQUY 9(11) ftp://ftp.princeton.edu/pub/harnad/Psycoloquy/1998.volume.9/ psyc.98.9.11.connectionist-explanation.8.medler
- Suppes, P. (1960) A comparison of the meaning and use of models in mathematics and the empirical sciences. Synthese, 12, 287-301.
- Van Fraassen, B. C. (1987) The semantic approach to scientific theories. In: The Process of Science: Contemporary Philosophical Approaches to Understanding Scientific Practice. ed. by N.J. Nersessian. Dordrecht, M. Nijhoff.