A Philosophy Student's Corner - Fred M R

English version:   Versión en español debajo.   Introduction      After reading about Tolman’s experiments on rats and latent learning, we discovered what Tolman called cognitive behaviorism. Moreover, Tolman also discovered that we use cognitive maps instead of response learning. In this article, we will be studying Karl Lashley’s contribution to the rise of cognitive science. First, we will discuss Lashley’s search of the engram, and then we will go with the problem of plans and complex behavior and Lashley’s hypotheses of subconscious information processing, and task analysis.      Back in the days, according to Plavov and other behaviorists, conditioning causes chemical or electrical changes in the brain, so Lashley, a physiologist, wanted to pinpoint exactly what these were (Collin et al., 2012). What Lashley wanted to locate, states Collin et al., was the memory trace, or “engram,” which is the specific place in the bra...

Hilary Putnam, pioneer of functionalism.   English version:   Versión en español debajo.   Introduction      After discussing substance dualism (more specifically, Cartesian interactionism), analytical behaviorism, and the identity theory of mind, this day’s introduction will be regarding functionalism . As substance dualism, analytical behaviorism, and the identity theory, functionalism is a theory of mind in philosophy.      George Rey, in Houdé’s (2004) dictionary of cognitive science, describes functionalism as “the name of a popular philosophical strategy with regard to the proper analysis (or definition) of mental phenomena (mental terms, concepts, properties).” Rey continues, stating that functionalism is based upon a simple idea: the fact that many things in the world are what they are, not particularly by virtue of what they are made of, but by virtue of what function, or role, they serve in a system. ...

What does "qua" mean? Look at this incredible video by Carneades.org explaining the concept of the Latin word "qua" used in sentences such as "being qua being" and "human qua human."

English version:   Versión en español debajo.   Introduction      According to Dusollier (2006), the process communication model, created by Taibi Kahler, is presently one of the best personality theories. Gilbert (1996) asserts that the process communication model (PCM) shows that attending to the needs of staff members and students can stimulate more acceptable performance and greater growth.      Gilbert also holds that PCM is multi-dimensional, highly predictable, and a way of helping people know more about themselves and others with whom they interact. Actually, NASA, back in 1996, had been using this model for more than 15 years to select and train astronauts. Nonetheless, very few people have heard of it. So, what does the process communication model state and how does it affect classroom management?   Overviewing the process communication model      Gaps exist between teacher preferences...

Lev Vygotsky No Spanish version.   Introduction     An earlier article discussed what constructivism is, mainly from Schunk’s (2012) perspective. Then, an article on Piaget’s theory of cognitive development was published discussing the four factors that affect development (maturation, activity, social transmission, and equilibrium) and the four stages of cognitive development (sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational). Today we will talk about a contrasting perspective on developmental psychology: Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory.      Berger (2018) defines sociocultural theory as “a newer theory which holds that development results from the dynamic interaction of each person with the surrounding social and cultural forces.” In the nature and nurture debate, the sociocultural theory puts emphasis on nurture, mostly setting nature aside.      Lev Vygotsky argued that educators should n...

English version:   Versión en español debajo.   Introduction      So far, we have talked about substance dualism and analytical behaviorism, two main theories in philosophy of mind since the times of the rationalists. Substance dualism was first proposed by Descartes, although there are different variants of substance and property dualism dating back to the classic Greek philosophers. Analytical behaviorism was proposed by Ryle and Wittgenstein and, now, we will take a look at the identity theory of mind.      U. T. Place wrote an article called “Is Consciousness a Brain Process?” in whose introduction he affirms that “consciousness is a process in the brain” is neither self-contradictory nor self-evident. For him, it is a reasonable scientific hypothesis. J. J. C. Smart suggested, against Wittgenstein, that “I am in pain” is a genuine report, and that what it reports is an irreducibly physical something; to Smart, in so far...