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2004 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

A study of types and cognitive functions of representation from an interactionist perspective

Research Project

Project/Area Number 14510004
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Philosophy
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokyo

Principal Investigator

NOBUHARA Yukihiro  The University of Tokyo, Graduate School of Arts and Science, Associate Professor, 大学院・総合文化研究科, 助教授 (10180770)

Project Period (FY) 2002 – 2004
Keywordsinteractionism / dynamical systems approach / symbolic representation / pictorial representation / distributed representation / nonconceptual representation / sense modality / Molyneux's problem
Research Abstract

I have studied what roles representation plays in cognition from an interactionist perspective. The results are as follows. (1)Cognition is divided into two groups, one requiring representation and the other not. In the latter group there is an intimate interaction between an organism and its environment that is adequately described as a dynamical process, while the former group includes a process which is adequately described as transformations of representations or a convergence of stimuli into a certain inner state. (2)There are at least three types of representation ; symbolic representations which have syntactic structure and so are productive, pictorial representations which evoke a perception similar to the one evoked by the represented object, and distributed representations which represent composite things without decomposing. (3)The relatively low level of organism environment interaction such as perception or walking is enabled by distributed representations while the relati … More vely high level of interaction such as mediated by a plan or inference is enabled by symbolic representations. Pictorial representations enable a quasi perceptual experience of the represented object by evoking a perception similar to the one evoked by the object. (4)Thought includes symbolic representation while perception includes distributed one. Therefore thought has conceptual content which enables rational inference while perception has nonconceptual content which does not. As a consequence, perception cannot be a reason for having any thought. Nevertheless a perception can justify the thought which it causes in the sense that the thought is true when the perception is true. (5)Perceptions in different sense modalities such as vision, audition or touch employ different types of representation. Therefore the answer to the Molyneux's question is negative. However representations in different sense modalities which represent the same things have a tendency to be accommodated into the same concept. This tendency ensures that the uniqueness of the objective world is conceptually secured. Less

  • Research Products

    (14 results)

All 2005 2004 2003 2002 Other

All Journal Article (12 results) Book (2 results)

  • [Journal Article] 知覚とモリヌークス問題2005

    • Author(s)
      信原 幸弘
    • Journal Title

      思想 970

      Pages: 24-41

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 直観と理論2005

    • Author(s)
      信原 幸弘
    • Journal Title

      現代思想 33-2

      Pages: 136-146

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Perception and Molyneux's problem2005

    • Author(s)
      Nobuhara, Yukihiro
    • Journal Title

      Idea 970

      Pages: 24-41

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Intuition and theory2005

    • Author(s)
      Nobuhara, Yukihiro
    • Journal Title

      Contemporary Ideas 33-2

      Pages: 136-146

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 知覚と表象2004

    • Author(s)
      信原 幸弘
    • Journal Title

      理想 672

      Pages: 83-96

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] デイヴィドソンの概念枠批判について2004

    • Author(s)
      信原 幸弘
    • Journal Title

      筑波哲学 13

      Pages: 22-32

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] On Davidson's refutation of a conceptual scheme2004

    • Author(s)
      Nobuhara, Yukihiro
    • Journal Title

      Tsukuba Philosophy 13

      Pages: 22-32

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 生命のひろがり2003

    • Author(s)
      信原 幸弘
    • Journal Title

      哲學 54

      Pages: 131-141

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] 捉えがたき明晰さ2003

    • Author(s)
      信原 幸弘
    • Journal Title

      思想 949

      Pages: 142-160

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Extension of life2003

    • Author(s)
      Nobuhara, Yukihiro
    • Journal Title

      Philosophy 54

      Pages: 131-141

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Clarity hard to capture2003

    • Author(s)
      Nobuhara, Yukihiro
    • Journal Title

      Idea 949

      Pages: 142-160

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Journal Article] Perception and representation

    • Author(s)
      Nobuhara, Yukihiro
    • Journal Title

      Ideal 672

      Pages: 83-96

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Book] 意識の哲学2002

    • Author(s)
      信原 幸弘
    • Total Pages
      230
    • Publisher
      岩波書店
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Book] Philosophy of consciousness2002

    • Author(s)
      Nobuhara, Yukihiro
    • Total Pages
      230
    • Publisher
      Iwanami Publishing Company
    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

URL: 

Published: 2006-07-11  

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