Cognitive Science and Concepts of Mind: Toward a General Theory of Human and Artificial Intelligence

For all of recorded history prior to the second half of the 20th century, there has been but one realm in which the cognitive processes of reasoning and problem solving, learning and discovery, language and mathematics took place. The realm of human intellect no longer has an exclusive claim on these cognitive processes - artificial intelligence represents a parallel claim. Morton Wagman’s text compares the two realms, identifies consonant and disparate modes of cognition, and identifies a general theory of human and artificial intelligence. A general theory of intellect entails the specific components of intellect as conceptualized in the domains of human and artificial intelligence. These specific components include the conceptual areas of reasoning, language learning and discovery. Theories of these components of intellect, as well as problem solving, logic and memory, are systematically examined and compared. Following the introductory chapter, each succeeding chapter focuses on a major cognitive component. Each component is analyzed from the perspectives of both human intellect and artificial intelligence. These dual perspectives are then compared, taking account of basic theory and contemporary research. The technical theory and research is considered against a broad background of intellectual history and psychological implication. Cognitive Science and Concepts of Mind is intended for graduate and advanced undergraduate students in cognitive science programs, psychology, philosophy and artificial intelligence courses. Wagman’s book should also be of interest to professionals in these and related disciplines.