Selmer Bringsjord (1998) Domain-independent Abstract Mediating States and ai . Psycoloquy: 9(53) Representation Mediation (2)
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Psycoloquy 9(53): Domain-independent Abstract Mediating States and ai

DOMAIN-INDEPENDENT ABSTRACT MEDIATING STATES AND AI
Commentary on Markman & Dietrich on Representation-Mediation

Selmer Bringsjord
Dept. of Philosophy, Psychology & Cognitive Science
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Troy, NY 12180

http://www.rpi.edu/~brings

selmer@rpi.edu

Abstract

Markman & Dietrich propose a compromise between representationalist and anti-representationalist approaches to the mind: a framework based on the intended-to-please-all and presumably-impossible-to-deny notion of a generic mediating state falling between a cognizer and its external environment. M & D offer an argument for a framework that explicitly excludes a specific kind of mediating state, viz., an abstract, domain-independent one based on deductive logic. Aided by an informal experiment I have been performing for the last two months, I explain why this argument is anemic. Along the way I assemble evidence for the view that abstract, deductive states are (i) undeniably present in some human minds, and (ii) their presence or absence in a given mind is a matter of what sort of education that mind has received. I conclude by explaining that (i) and (ii) support a pre-M & D framework for mediating states that is at the heart of contemporary "agent-based" AI.

Keywords

compositionality, computation, connectionism, discrete states, dynamic Systems, explanation, information, meaning, mediating states, representation, rules, semantic Content symbols

References