Topic 4b - Information Processing

Question 1

Main Idea

Answer 1

• The Human mind is a complex system that receives, stores, retrieves, transforms, and transmits information
• There must be physical stuff in the world that does this

Question 2

Computational Description vs Physical Implementation

Answer 2

• Brains are computers, minds are programs running on the brain
• New physical schema: THE MIND [ Sensors -> Brain -> Muscles ]

Question 3

Symbolic Systems Definition

Answer 3

• Using semantically interpretable representations and transformations of these representations (language-like rules) to do cognitive work
• Using serial processing and following the “sense-think-act” cycle

Question 4

Two Games Example

Answer 4

• Marble game vs game with two baskets of tiles that get swapped
• Two games are physically very different, but are essentially the same game
• Minds are the same - we don’t care about the physical implementation so much as what is implemented

Question 5

Solving Dualism Problems

Answer 5

• The mind is not interacting with the body so much as a process the body is carrying out
• This is perfectly fine from a scientifically rigorous perspective