The Computational Theory of Mind

by Matteo Colombo, Gualtiero Piccinini

The Computational Theory of Mind says that the mind is a computing system. It has a long history going back to the idea that thought is a kind of computation. Its modern incarnation relies on analogies with contemporary computing technology and the use of computational models. It comes in many versions, some more plausible than others. This Element supports the theory primarily by its contribution to solving the mind-body problem, its ability to explain mental phenomena, and the success of computational modelling and artificial intelligence. To be turned into an adequate theory, it needs to be made compatible with the tractability of cognition, the situatedness and dynamical aspects of the mind, the way the brain works, intentionality, and consciousness.

75 pages, Hardcover

Published December 7, 2023

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Reviews

[Allan Olley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of the computational theory of mind in philosophy of mind. This is the idea that the mind is usefully describable as a computing system. This monograph quickly surveys the history of computing machines and the mathematical conception of computing (Church-Turing) as an introduction to what computation is. However the point is made that computation has many forms and the modern electronic digital computer while the most familiar model of a computing system need not be the only possible model. A few debates about the computational nature of mind such as its relation to other theories such as functionalism and debates about pancomputationalism (whether everything is describable as a computing system).

This element spends most of its time just laying out some of the basic outlines of the system. Some more involved issues are raised but it does not explore any particular perspective in great detail as some of the Elements did.

The pdf worked fine.