The Architecture of Mind as a Network of Networks of Natural Computational Processes
Journal article, 2016

In discussions regarding models of cognition, the very mention of “computationalism” often incites reactions against the insufficiency of the Turing machine model, its abstractness, determinism, the lack of naturalist foundations, triviality and the absence of clarity. None of those objections, however, concerns models based on natural computation or computing nature, where the model of computation is broader than symbol manipulation or conventional models of computation. Computing nature consists of physical structures that form layered computational architecture, with computation processes ranging from quantum to chemical, biological/cognitive and social-level computation. It is argued that, on the lower levels of information processing in the brain, finite automata or Turing machines may still be adequate models, while, on the higher levels of whole-brain information processing, natural computing models are necessary. A layered computational architecture of the mind based on the intrinsic computing of physical systems avoids objections against early versions of computationalism in the form of abstract symbols manipulation.

computational cognition

natural computing

info-computationalism

levels of organization

cognitive information processing

cognitive architecture

Author

Gordana Dodig Crnkovic

Chalmers, Applied Information Technology (Chalmers), Cognition and Communication

Philosophies

24099287 (eISSN)

Vol. 1 1 111-125

Subject Categories

Computer and Information Science

DOI

10.3390/philosophies1010111

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Latest update

8/8/2023 6