Dynamical Explanation in Cognitive Science

Applying the concepts of dynamical systems theory to explain cognitive phenomena is still a fairly recent trend in cognitive science and its potential and consequences are not nearly mapped out. A decade ago, dynamical approaches were introduced as a paradigm shift in cognitive science and in this p...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal for general philosophy of science 2006-03, Vol.37 (1), p.139-163
Main Author: Nielsen, Keld Stehr
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Causality
Causation
Cognition
Cognitive models
Contrafactuals
Discussions
Dynamical systems
Emergence
Emergentism
Epistemology. Philosophy of science. Theory of knowledge
Fingers
Mathematical models
Philosophy
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Applying the concepts of dynamical systems theory to explain cognitive phenomena is still a fairly recent trend in cognitive science and its potential and consequences are not nearly mapped out. A decade ago, dynamical approaches were introduced as a paradigm shift in cognitive science and in this paper I concentrate on how to substantiate this claim. After having considered and rejected the possibility that continuous time is the crucial factor, I present Kelso's model of a near-cognitive phenomenon which invokes self-organization as the guiding principle. Then, the explanatory strategy implicit in this approach is explicated and its underlying assumption presented. Finally, I discuss how we should characterize this explanatory framework using the notion of emergence.
ISSN:0925-4560
1572-8587
DOI:10.1007/s10838-006-0487-z