Foundations of Cognitive Science

Cognitive science is the interdisciplinary study of the mind, including elements of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, artificial intelligence (AI), linguistics, and anthropology. The central theme since it began in the mid-twentieth century has been the idea of the mind as an information processing system; the computer metaphor.

But foundational issues in the subject have still not been put to bed and I’ve been struggling with them myself for the last 20 years. How should we characterise mind, intelligence, thought, consciousness, knowledge, belief, desire, free will, intentionality, and so on? What is the relation between mind and brain?

Also, is it possible for machines to ever be truly intelligent agents? Can machines think? But then beyond the ongoing arguments for and against AI lurks a broader arena of debate that includes issues of animal intelligence, alien intelligence, child intelligence, abnormal intelligence, and man-machine hybrid intelligence.

Susan Greenfield and the Pointing Incident

9 August, 2011

Susan Greenfield has successfully kicked off a huge argument about the relationship between Internet use and negative brain and behavioural changes. In her opinion social media sites, computer games, and so on, rewire our brains; potentially increasing incidences of problems such autism, isolation, and a lack of empathy. For Greenfield ... Read more

Augmented Reality Glastonbury Would Be Even Better Than The Real Thing

28 June, 2011

An enjoyable Glastonbury weekend drew to a close with an apparent difference of opinion between BBC presenters, Lauren Laverne and Zane Lowe, about the joys of Beyoncéas Sunday’s headline act. Lauren appeared in awe of the bootilicious one whilst Zane appeared somewhat less than engaged. Naturally ... Read more