Fodor's New Theory of Content and Computation

Authors: Brook A.; Stainton R.J.

Source: Mind & Language, Volume 12, Number 3-4, September 1997 , pp. 459-474(16)

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Abstract:

In his recent book, The Elm and the Expert, Fodor attempts to reconcile the computational model of human cognition with information-theoretic semantics, the view that semantic, and mental, content consists of nothing more than causal or nomic relationships, between words and the world, or (roughly) brain states and the world. In this paper, we do not challenge the project. Nor do we show that Fodor has failed to carry it out. Instead, we urge that his analysis, when made explicit, turns out rather differently than he thinks. In particular, in some places where he sees problems, he sometimes shows that there is no problem. And while he says two conceptions of information come to much the same thing, his analysis shows that they are very different. This is rather strange.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: 2217 Dunton, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada K1S 5B6

Publication date: 1997-09-01