Cognitive Science 170
Natural and Artificial Symbol-Using Systems
Name: _________________________
SHORT PAPER #1:
Questions: (3-6 pages). Choose question 1 or 2! Indicate at
beginning of paper which question you have chosen. Hand in a printout
on real paper. Staple the pages together. Don't send an email
attachment.
- 1. Fodor and Pylyshyn argue that current network models are
inadequate to explain certain aspects of human cognition. Describe and
evaluate one or two of their main arguments.
- 2. Turing's original idea of computation was automated conscious
calculation by a human. As complex high-level programming languages
were developed, people such as Allen Newell suggested that the upper
level cognitive architecture implemented in these high-level
languages (as opposed to low-level machine language) was crucial
to understanding human cognition. Support or argue against this
idea.
In both cases, you can argue either side of the issue. I won't penalize
or reward you for taking either side (or for arguing for something
in between). Rather, the most important thing is to cite at least one
example of both connectionist and more traditional artificial
intelligence models (like the ones presented in class but not limited to
them) to support your arguments. Examples will make your task easier.
Note that Fodor and Pylyshyn do not cite any concrete examples, so I am
asking you to go beyond what they have done.
Finally, it is almost always a good idea to start each paragraph with
a topic sentence. A good test of the organization of your paper is to
read aloud just the topic sentences, one after the other, and see if it
makes sense.
due beginning of class Mon, 1/31/05