The dynamical hypothesis in cognitive science

T. Van Gelder; W. Bechtel; R. D. Beer; N. Braisby; R. Cooper; B. Franks; B. Bridgeman; A. Bundy; N. Chater; U. Hahn; R. L. Chrisley; J. P. Crutchfield; K. Davids; S. Bennett; D. C. Dennett; E. Dietrich; A. B. Markman; J. R. Eiser; C. Eliasmith; D. R. Franceschetti; R. M. French; E. Thomas; J. W. Garson; R. A. Heath; T. Horgan; J. Tienson; R. Jaeger; F. A. Keijzer; S. Ben; L. Van der Heijden; M. Mitchell; G. R. Mulhauser; D. C. Noelle; G. O'Brien; J. Petitot; S. R. Quartz; B. Shanon; T. Smithers; F. Van der Velde; M. De Kamps; M. Wheeler

doi:10.1017/S0140525X98001733

The dynamical hypothesis in cognitive science

T. Van Gelder, W. Bechtel, R. D. Beer, N. Braisby, R. Cooper, B. Franks, B. Bridgeman, A. Bundy, N. Chater, U. Hahn, R. L. Chrisley, J. P. Crutchfield, K. Davids, S. Bennett, D. C. Dennett, E. Dietrich, A. B. Markman, J. R. Eiser, C. Eliasmith, D. R. FranceschettiR. M. French, E. Thomas, J. W. Garson, R. A. Heath, T. Horgan, J. Tienson, R. Jaeger, F. A. Keijzer, S. Ben, L. Van der Heijden, M. Mitchell, G. R. Mulhauser, D. C. Noelle, G. O'Brien, J. Petitot, S. R. Quartz, B. Shanon, T. Smithers, F. Van der Velde, M. De Kamps, M. Wheeler

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

529 Scopus citations

Abstract

According to the dominant computational approach in cognitive science, cognitive agents are digital computers; according to the alternative approach, they are dynamical systems. This target article attempts to articulate and support the dynamical hypothesis. The dynamical hypothesis has two major components: the nature hypothesis (cognitive agents are dynamical systems) and the knowledge hypothesis (cognitive agents can be understood dynamically). A wide range of objections to this hypothesis can be rebutted. The conclusion is that cognitive systems may well be dynamical systems, and only sustained empirical research in cognitive science will determine the extent to which that is true.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	615-665
Number of pages	51
Journal	Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume	21
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X98001733
State	Published - 1998
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Cognition
Computability
Computational systems
Computers
Dynamical systems
Modeling
Systems
Time

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
Physiology
Behavioral Neuroscience

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10.1017/S0140525X98001733

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Van Gelder, T., Bechtel, W., Beer, R. D., Braisby, N., Cooper, R., Franks, B., Bridgeman, B., Bundy, A., Chater, N., Hahn, U., Chrisley, R. L., Crutchfield, J. P., Davids, K., Bennett, S., Dennett, D. C., Dietrich, E., Markman, A. B., Eiser, J. R., Eliasmith, C., ... Wheeler, M. (1998). The dynamical hypothesis in cognitive science. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 21(5), 615-665. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X98001733

Van Gelder, T, Bechtel, W, Beer, RD, Braisby, N, Cooper, R, Franks, B, Bridgeman, B, Bundy, A, Chater, N, Hahn, U, Chrisley, RL, Crutchfield, JP, Davids, K, Bennett, S, Dennett, DC, Dietrich, E, Markman, AB, Eiser, JR, Eliasmith, C, Franceschetti, DR, French, RM, Thomas, E, Garson, JW, Heath, RA, Horgan, T, Tienson, J, Jaeger, R, Keijzer, FA, Ben, S, Van der Heijden, L, Mitchell, M, Mulhauser, GR, Noelle, DC, O'Brien, G, Petitot, J, Quartz, SR, Shanon, B, Smithers, T, Van der Velde, F, De Kamps, M & Wheeler, M 1998, 'The dynamical hypothesis in cognitive science', Behavioral and Brain Sciences, vol. 21, no. 5, pp. 615-665. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X98001733

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AU - Van Gelder, T.

AU - Bechtel, W.

AU - Beer, R. D.

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AU - Cooper, R.

AU - Franks, B.

AU - Bridgeman, B.

AU - Bundy, A.

AU - Chater, N.

AU - Hahn, U.

AU - Chrisley, R. L.

AU - Crutchfield, J. P.

AU - Davids, K.

AU - Bennett, S.

AU - Dennett, D. C.

AU - Dietrich, E.

AU - Markman, A. B.

AU - Eiser, J. R.

AU - Eliasmith, C.

AU - Franceschetti, D. R.

AU - French, R. M.

AU - Thomas, E.

AU - Garson, J. W.

AU - Heath, R. A.

AU - Horgan, T.

AU - Tienson, J.

AU - Jaeger, R.

AU - Keijzer, F. A.

AU - Ben, S.

AU - Van der Heijden, L.

AU - Mitchell, M.

AU - Mulhauser, G. R.

AU - Noelle, D. C.

AU - O'Brien, G.

AU - Petitot, J.

AU - Quartz, S. R.

AU - Shanon, B.

AU - Smithers, T.

AU - Van der Velde, F.

AU - De Kamps, M.

AU - Wheeler, M.

PY - 1998

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KW - Cognition

KW - Computability

KW - Computational systems

KW - Computers

KW - Dynamical systems

KW - Modeling

KW - Systems

KW - Time

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The dynamical hypothesis in cognitive science

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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