Theoretical Model of Intentionality

Mind and Matter 8 (1):7-18 (2010)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

In this theoretical study we explore the concept of intentional-ity. Intentionality is the specific reference that mental phenomena have with respect to objects, also termed the 'aboutness' of cognitive acts. We discuss intentionality on the basis of self-organized pattern formation, a ubiquitous phenomenon in complex open systems. Dynamical systems theory provides an understanding of how emergent variables originate from microscopic variables. Control parameters comprise those external parameters and gradients that drive the systems they represent environmental inuences. The relationship between pattern formation and control parameters therefore addresses the functioning of a system in its environment. Our hypothesis is that self-organizing systems exhibit intentionality-like capabilities in their responses to environmental inuences. This is modelled using differential calculus, by which we demonstrate how pattern formation reduces control parameters in an efficient manner. These ideas are applied to the complex system brain, using the Wilson-Cowan equations of axonal pulse rates in neural networks.

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 90,593

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Intentionality, Morality, and Their Relationship in Human Judgment.Bertram Malle - 2006 - Journal of Cognition and Culture 6 (1-2):61-86.
Intentionality and Stich's theory of brain sentence syntax.Dale Jacquette - 1990 - Philosophical Quarterly 40 (159):169-82.
Book Review. [REVIEW]Tharina Guse - 2010 - Indo-Pacific Journal of Phenomenology 10 (1):1-3.
The folk concept of intentionality.Joshua Knobe & Bertram Malle - 1997 - Journal of Experimental Social Psychology 33:101-121.
On a model for psycho-neural coevolution.Bernard W. Kobes - 1991 - Behavior and Philosophy 19 (2):1-17.
A general interactivist-constructivist model of intentionality.W. D. Christensen & C. A. Hooker - forthcoming - Contemporary Naturalist Theories of Evolution and Intentionality, Canadian Journal of Philosophy, Special Supplementary Volume.
Sharing and Ascribing Goals.Pierre Jacob - 2012 - Mind and Language 27 (2):200-227.

Analytics

Added to PP
2013-12-19

Downloads
9 (#1,079,720)

6 months
1 (#1,040,386)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references