The Language of Thought: A New Philosophical Direction

by Susan Schneider

Overview

A philosophical refashioning of the Language of Thought approach and the related computational theory of mind.

The language of thought (LOT) approach to the nature of mind has been highly influential in cognitive science and the philosophy of mind; and yet, as Susan Schneider argues, its philosophical foundations are weak. In this philosophical refashioning of LOT and the related computational theory of mind (CTM), Schneider offers a different framework than has been developed by LOT and CTM's main architect, Jerry Fodor: one that seeks integration with neuroscience, repudiates Fodor's pessimism about the capacity of cognitive science to explain cognition, embraces pragmatism, and advances a different approach to the nature of concepts, mental symbols, and modes of presentation.

According to the LOT approach, conceptual thought is determined by the manipulation of mental symbols according to algorithms. Schneider tackles three key problems that have plagued the LOT approach for decades: the computational nature of the central system (the system responsible for higher cognitive function); the nature of symbols; and Frege cases. To address these problems,] Schneider develops a computational theory that is based on the Global Workspace approach; develops a theory of symbols, "the algorithmic view"; and brings her theory of symbols to bear on LOT's account of the causation of thought and behavior. In the course of solving these problems, Schneider shows that LOT must make peace with both computationalism and pragmatism; indeed, the new conception of symbols renders LOT a pragmatist theory. And LOT must turn its focus to cognitive and computational neuroscience for its naturalism to succeed.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780262527453
Publisher:	MIT Press
Publication date:	01/30/2015
Series:	The MIT Press
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Susan Schneider is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Connecticut.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

1 Introduction 1

2 The Central System as a Computational Engine 27

3 Jerry Fodor's Globality Challenge to the Computational Theory of Mind Kirk Ludwig 65

4 What LOT's Mental States Cannot Be: Ruling out Alternative Conceptions 91

5 Mental Symbols 111

6 Idiosyncratic Minds Think Alike: Modes of Presentation Reconsidered 135

7 Concepts: A Pragmatist Theory 159

8 Solving the Frege Cases 183

9 Conclusion 229

References 233

Index 249

What People are Saying About This

Mark Bickhard

Susan Schneider's The Language of Thought: A New Philosophical Direction does precisely what its title claims: it provides a new orientation for the language of thought and the related computational theory of mind. Schneider bravely stakes out new theoretical commitments for LOT, such as a pragmatist theory of concepts and a theory of symbols. Whether you agree or disagree with the LOT approach—I myself am a critic—Schneider's book is an absolutely necessary read for anyone interested in philosophy of mind and the foundations of cognitive science.

E.J. Lowe

Susan Schneider has written a beautifully clear and highly original reappraisal of the language of thought hypothesis, reworking it from its very roots and bringing it into harmony with the latest developments in cognitive and computational neuroscience. Her fine book makes essential reading for philosophers of mind and cognitive scientists alike.

Endorsement

Susan Schneider's The Language of Thought: A New Philosophical Direction does precisely what its title claims: it provides a new orientation for the language of thought and the related computational theory of mind. Schneider bravely stakes out new theoretical commitments for LOT, such as a pragmatist theory of concepts and a theory of symbols. Whether you agree or disagree with the LOT approach—I myself am a critic—Schneider's book is an absolutely necessary read for anyone interested in philosophy of mind and the foundations of cognitive science.

—Mark Bickhard, Henry R. Luce Professor in Cognitive Robotics and the Philosophy of Knowledge, Lehigh University

From the Publisher

A must-read for proponents and opponents of the language of thought alike.

—John Heil, Professor of Philosophy, Monash University, and Professor of Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, Washington University in St Louis

Susan Schneider has written a beautifully clear and highly original reappraisal of the language of thought hypothesis, reworking it from its very roots and bringing it into harmony with the latest developments in cognitive and computational neuroscience. Her fine book makes essential reading for philosophers of mind and cognitive scientists alike.

—E.J. Lowe, Durham University

Susan Schneider's The Language of Thought: A New Philosophical Direction does precisely what its title claims: it provides a new orientation for the language of thought and the related computational theory of mind. Schneider bravely stakes out new theoretical commitments for LOT, such as a pragmatist theory of concepts and a theory of symbols. Whether you agree or disagree with the LOT approach—I myself am a critic—Schneider's book is an absolutely necessary read for anyone interested in philosophy of mind and the foundations of cognitive science.

—Mark Bickhard, Henry R. Luce Professor in Cognitive Robotics and the Philosophy of Knowledge, Lehigh University

John Heil

A must-read for proponents and opponents of the language of thought alike.

Editorial Reviews

[Schneider's] book is good proof of the health of contemporary philosophy of mind....To get rid of old stigmas and to raise issues with certain positions is a necessary step. Schneider has provided this first step in her book, showing LOT as a viable response when she focuses it towards computational and cognitive neuroscience for its naturalism to succeed.—Metapsychology—

Schneider's book....is very much in the spirit (and even the style) of what Fodor has said at one point or another. [She] chides philosophers (I suspect she is looking hardest at Fodor and friends) for not following the state of the art in neuroscience and for building theories that fail to reflect findings there. She endorses the ''global workplace'' theory of central cognition developed by Baars and, later, Dehaene.

—Minds and Machines—

——

This book will undoubtedly set the agenda for future work on LOT....The quality of scholarship and writing is high throughout. Unusually for a philosophy monograph, it is also fun to read.

—MIND—

——

From the Publisher

Schneider's book....is very much in the spirit (and even the style) of what Fodor has said at one point or another. [She] chides philosophers (I suspect she is looking hardest at Fodor and friends) for not following the state of the art in neuroscience and for building theories that fail to reflect findings there. She endorses the ''global workplace'' theory of central cognition developed by Baars and, later, Dehaene.

Minds and Machines

[Schneider's] book is good proof of the health of contemporary philosophy of mind....To get rid of old stigmas and to raise issues with certain positions is a necessary step. Schneider has provided this first step in her book, showing LOT as a viable response when she focuses it towards computational and cognitive neuroscience for its naturalism to succeed.

Metapsychology

—

Reviews

Schneider is concerned to defend some reasonable and important hypotheses....[she]raises some cogent objection to some of the specific arguments Fodor makes....I think she's quite right to observe that the phenomena of globablity, isotropy, and relevance do not per se — and pace some arguments of Fodor — show a domain to be computationally intractable.

Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews