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Introduction & History of Comparative Cognition

Introduction & History of Comparative Cognition. January 5, 2010. Scientific Method. Induction Swan 1 is white Swan 2 is white Swan 3 is white… All swans are white. Sir Karl Popper (1902-1994) Induction can’t prove theory All it takes is one black swan! falsifiability.

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Introduction & History of Comparative Cognition

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  1. Introduction & History of Comparative Cognition January 5, 2010

  2. Scientific Method • Induction • Swan 1 is white • Swan 2 is white • Swan 3 is white… • All swans are white. • Sir Karl Popper (1902-1994) • Induction can’t prove theory • All it takes is one black swan! • falsifiability

  3. Scientific Method • Thomas Samuel Kuhn (1922-1996) • Science not a linear process • Paradigm shifts • Criteria for theory choice: • Accuracy • Consistency • Scope • Simplicity • Fruitfulness

  4. Scientific Method • Paul Feyerabend (1924-1994) • “anything goes“ • Falsification is flawed due to implicit assumptions • Tower argument

  5. Marr’s Levels of Analysis • Computational • What does the system do and why does it do these things? • Algorithmic • How does the system do what it does, specificially, what representations does it use, and what processes does it employ? • Implementational • How is the system physically realized?

  6. Example: Cash Register • Computational: 2. Algorithmic 3. Computational Take numerical inputs and use arithmetic to create new representation; addition What representation is used – decimal system, binary, other? What steps are followed – mathematical rules. What is the hardware? Microchip, abacus?

  7. Example: Path Integration • Computational: combine distance and direction information to determine vector “home” • Algorithmic: how is this accomplished? Sun compass, count number of steps, calculation of angles? • Implementational: What part of the brain or nervous system is doing the calculating?

  8. Reductionism • What is the relationship between these levels? • Do we need all the levels or does explanation in terms of a lower level obviate the need for a higher level? • Problem: Multiple realizability?

  9. History of Comparative Cognition

  10. “the difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind” • Darwin, The Descent of Man

  11. Early Years • Darwin vs Wallace • Does evolution apply to the mind? • George Romanes (1848-1894) • Animal Intelligence • Anecdotal accounts • C. Lloyd Morgan (1852-1936) • Morgan’s canon • Problem of anthropomorphism

  12. The Behaviourist Approach • Influences from Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson, Skinner • Focus on observable events • Restrict Psychology to experimental methods

  13. Different Approaches • American Approach • Strict behaviorism • Focus on “How” • Commonalities between species, building blocks of cognition • European Approach • Ethology, e.g. Lorenz & imprinting • Focus on “Why” • Differences between species

  14. 1960’s: Brought the mind back into Psych Triggered to some degree by Chomsky’s critique of Skinner What happens inside the “black box”? Analogies like switchboards, computers Cognitive Revolution

  15. Next Class: Where is comparative cognition today? Methods and approaches Evolution Anthropomorphism Discussion of 2 readings (will be posted online tomorrow!)

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