Connectionism and the Mind
Parallel Processing, Dynamics, and Evolution in Networks
2. Edition November 2001
424 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
ISBN:
978-0-631-20712-2
John Wiley & Sons
Connectionism and the Mind provides a clear and balanced introduction to connectionist networks and explores theoretical and philosophical implications. Much of this discussion from the first edition has been updated, and three new chapters have been added on the relation of connectionism to recent work on dynamical systems theory, artificial life, and cognitive neuroscience.
Read two of the sample chapters on line:
Connectionism and the Dynamical Approach to Cognition:
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/pdf/bechtel.pdf
Networks, Robots, and Artificial Life:
http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/pdf/bechtel2.pdf
Preface.
1. Networks versus Symbol Systems: Two Approaches to Modeling
Cognition.
2. Connectionist Architectures.
3. Learning.
4. Pattern Recognition and Cognition.
5. Are Rules Required to Process Representations?.
6. Are Syntactically Structured Representations Needed?.
7. Simulating Higher Cognition: A Modular Architecture for
Processing Scripts.
8. Connectionism and the Dynamical Approach to Cognition.
9. Networks, Robots, and Artificial Life.
10. Connectionism and the Brain.
Notes.
Sources and Suggested Readings.
Appendix A: Notation.
Appendix B: Glossary.
Bibliography.
Name Index.
Subject Index.
1. Networks versus Symbol Systems: Two Approaches to Modeling
Cognition.
2. Connectionist Architectures.
3. Learning.
4. Pattern Recognition and Cognition.
5. Are Rules Required to Process Representations?.
6. Are Syntactically Structured Representations Needed?.
7. Simulating Higher Cognition: A Modular Architecture for
Processing Scripts.
8. Connectionism and the Dynamical Approach to Cognition.
9. Networks, Robots, and Artificial Life.
10. Connectionism and the Brain.
Notes.
Sources and Suggested Readings.
Appendix A: Notation.
Appendix B: Glossary.
Bibliography.
Name Index.
Subject Index.
"Much more than just an update, this is a thorough and exciting
re-build of the classic text. Excellent new treatments of
modularity, dynamics, artificial life, and cognitive neuroscience
locate connectionism at the very heart of contemporary debates. A
superb combination of detail, clarity, scope, and enthusiasm."
Andy Clark, University of Sussex
"Connectionism and the Mind is an extraordinarily
comprehensive and thoughtful review of connectionism, with
particular emphasis on recent developments. This new edition will
be a valuable primer to those new to the field. But there is more:
Bechtel and Abrahamsen's trenchant and even-handed analysis of the
conceptual issues that are addressed by connectionist models
constitute an important original theoretical contribution to
cognitive science." Jeff Elman, University of California at
San Diego
re-build of the classic text. Excellent new treatments of
modularity, dynamics, artificial life, and cognitive neuroscience
locate connectionism at the very heart of contemporary debates. A
superb combination of detail, clarity, scope, and enthusiasm."
Andy Clark, University of Sussex
"Connectionism and the Mind is an extraordinarily
comprehensive and thoughtful review of connectionism, with
particular emphasis on recent developments. This new edition will
be a valuable primer to those new to the field. But there is more:
Bechtel and Abrahamsen's trenchant and even-handed analysis of the
conceptual issues that are addressed by connectionist models
constitute an important original theoretical contribution to
cognitive science." Jeff Elman, University of California at
San Diego
William Bechtel is Professor of Philosophy at the University
of California, San Diego and Editor of the journal Philosophical
Psychology. His publications include Philosophy of Mind
(1988), Philosophy of Science (1988), and Discovering
Complexity (1993, with Robert Richardson), A Companion to
Cognitive Science (with George Graham, Blackwell 1999),
Philosophy and the Neurosciences (with Pete Mandik, Jennefer
Mundale and Robert S. Stufflebeam, Blackwell 2001).
Adele Abrahamsen is Associate Professor of Psychology and
Undergraduate Director of the Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology
and Linguistics Programs at Washington University in St. Louis. She
is the author of Child Language (1977).
of California, San Diego and Editor of the journal Philosophical
Psychology. His publications include Philosophy of Mind
(1988), Philosophy of Science (1988), and Discovering
Complexity (1993, with Robert Richardson), A Companion to
Cognitive Science (with George Graham, Blackwell 1999),
Philosophy and the Neurosciences (with Pete Mandik, Jennefer
Mundale and Robert S. Stufflebeam, Blackwell 2001).
Adele Abrahamsen is Associate Professor of Psychology and
Undergraduate Director of the Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology
and Linguistics Programs at Washington University in St. Louis. She
is the author of Child Language (1977).