Mental states can be about something else {representation, symbolic} {symbolic representation}. Representation is neither reflexive nor symmetric.
types
Representations are beliefs, hopes, fears, or ideas.
forms
Representations can be linguistic, non-linguistic, or other mental states. Representations can use gestures, sounds, marks, or natural phenomena.
interpretation
The same representation can be about several different objects or events, depending on interpretation. Different interpretations can make different representations. Representations do not necessarily resemble the represented. Representations are not necessarily about real external objects or concepts but about perceptions, experiences, history, or actions relative to external objects. Representations can represent concepts, as well as things.
Similarity representation does not imply representation similarity. Representation absence is not the same as absence representation. Representation presence is not the same as presence representation.
process
Representations are not just labeling and not just associations between arbitrary symbols and the represented. Outside rules or other agents do not assign representations. Representations use agent structure or configuration, with functions. Representations have meaning to agents, because structures or functions associate with agent history, memory, structures, and functions. Agents can use representations, such as goals or reasons.
process: information
Representations include only parts and relations necessary to act for survival and omit most information about objects and events. Principles include how objects construct. Representations build through multiple eye fixations and so involve memory. Representations have hierarchies, in which larger patterns inhibit smaller ones.
images
Representations store general shapes at low resolution and parts at higher resolution. Representations include features and feature probabilities. Surfaces can be ellipsoidal segments, so objects and events can be like generalized ellipsoids, whose equation is a*x^2 + b*x + c*y^2 + d*y + e*z^2 + f*z + g = 0. Networks need 10 to 100 units to represent all possible three-dimensional-object views. Representations can include viewer-centered and object-centered properties.
People can introspect about representation {higher-order thought theory, meta-representation} (HOT theory) and so make consciousness {meta-representation} (Rosenthal). However, why should consciousness require thinking about mental states? Is culture necessary to have higher-order thoughts?
Cognitive representations have intrinsic connections {systematicity argument}. Reasoning is systematic.
Representations have both causal factors and conceptual-role factors {two-factor theories}. However, why do the factors match?
6-Philosophy-Epistemology-Thinking-Productions
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Date Modified: 2022.0225