Can Cognitive Mechanisms Explain Ecological Behaviour ?
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Cognition in eco & cognition in vitro Can cognitive mechanisms explain ecological behaviour ? Avel Guenin{Carlut avelguenin.github.io May 12, 2021 Kairos Research kairos-research.org Behaviorism Behaviour is determined by law-like regularities in the association of stimuli and response, as can be observed in experimental settings (Post-)Cognitivism Behaviour derive from mental activity determined by the physical architecture which enable structured information processing What are cognitive sciences ? 1 (Post-)Cognitivism Behaviour derive from mental activity determined by the physical architecture which enable structured information processing What are cognitive sciences ? Behaviorism Behaviour is determined by law-like regularities in the association of stimuli and response, as can be observed in experimental settings 1 What are cognitive sciences ? Behaviorism Behaviour is determined by law-like regularities in the association of stimuli and response, as can be observed in experimental settings (Post-)Cognitivism Behaviour derive from mental activity determined by the physical architecture which enable structured information processing 1 What are cognitive sciences ? Behaviorism Behaviour is determined by law-like regularities in the association of stimuli and response, as can be observed in experimental settings (Post-)Cognitivism Behaviour derive from mental activity determined by the physical architecture which enable structured information processing 1 From computer analogy to cognitive mechanisms [61] Dynamical post-cognitivism Symbolic cognitivism (from [20]) (from [61] What are cognitive sciences ? 2 Dynamical post-cognitivism Symbolic cognitivism (from [20]) (from [61] What are cognitive sciences ? From computer analogy to cognitive mechanisms [61] 2 Dynamical post-cognitivism (from [20]) What are cognitive sciences ? From computer analogy to cognitive mechanisms [61] Symbolic cognitivism (from [61] 2 What are cognitive sciences ? From computer analogy to cognitive mechanisms [61] Dynamical post-cognitivism Symbolic cognitivism (from [20]) (from [61] 2 Table of Contents Cognition in vitro : studying cognitive architecture Scaling cognition from the lab to the wild Cognition in eco : studying human activity Conclusion 3 Cognition in vitro : studying cognitive architecture Stimulus-response paradigm in experimental psychology A subject is exposed to a specific stimuli, and the experimenter measures some relevant aspect of their answer. The functioning of specific cognitive mechanisms is inferred from the observed regularities. Behaviour is typically observed in controlled and individual settings where it exhibits law-like regularities. Cognitive mechanisms intervene so as to explain these regularities [61]. How does cognitive psychology work ? 4 Behaviour is typically observed in controlled and individual settings where it exhibits law-like regularities. Cognitive mechanisms intervene so as to explain these regularities [61]. How does cognitive psychology work ? Stimulus-response paradigm in experimental psychology A subject is exposed to a specific stimuli, and the experimenter measures some relevant aspect of their answer. The functioning of specific cognitive mechanisms is inferred from the observed regularities. 4 Behaviour is typically observed in controlled and individual settings where it exhibits law-like regularities. Cognitive mechanisms intervene so as to explain these regularities [61]. How does cognitive psychology work ? Stimulus-response paradigm in experimental psychology A subject is exposed to a specific stimuli, and the experimenter measures some relevant aspect of their answer. The functioning of specific cognitive mechanisms is inferred from the observed regularities. 4 How does cognitive psychology work ? Stimulus-response paradigm in experimental psychology A subject is exposed to a specific stimuli, and the experimenter measures some relevant aspect of their answer. The functioning of specific cognitive mechanisms is inferred from the observed regularities. Behaviour is typically observed in controlled and individual settings where it exhibits law-like regularities. Cognitive mechanisms intervene so as to explain these regularities [61]. 4 Massive modularism [4, 17] Cognitive mechanisms are domain-specific adaptations to specific environmental problems encountered by humans in ancestral environment, and are consequently individuated by their function as defined by activation condition and stimulus-response law. Illustration of module domains [56] Individuating cognitive mechanisms by their function 5 Illustration of module domains [56] Individuating cognitive mechanisms by their function Massive modularism [4, 17] Cognitive mechanisms are domain-specific adaptations to specific environmental problems encountered by humans in ancestral environment, and are consequently individuated by their function as defined by activation condition and stimulus-response law. 5 Individuating cognitive mechanisms by their function Massive modularism [4, 17] Cognitive mechanisms are domain-specific adaptations to specific environmental problems encountered by humans in ancestral environment, and are consequently individuated by their function as defined by activation condition and stimulus-response law. 5 Illustration of module domains [56] Evolutionary function [8, 55] Biological traits are not typically individuated by ancestral challenges they were selected to solve, since they emerge from developmental processes that are not shaped by single adaptive problems. Ecological function [6, 13] Documented cognitive mecanisms are not typically individuated by the range of behaviour they cause, because they have an active role in the emergence of complex autonomous dynamics. Can we match cognitive mechanisms to their function ? 6 Ecological function [6, 13] Documented cognitive mecanisms are not typically individuated by the range of behaviour they cause, because they have an active role in the emergence of complex autonomous dynamics. Can we match cognitive mechanisms to their function ? Evolutionary function [8, 55] Biological traits are not typically individuated by ancestral challenges they were selected to solve, since they emerge from developmental processes that are not shaped by single adaptive problems. 6 Can we match cognitive mechanisms to their function ? Evolutionary function [8, 55] Biological traits are not typically individuated by ancestral challenges they were selected to solve, since they emerge from developmental processes that are not shaped by single adaptive problems. Ecological function [6, 13] Documented cognitive mecanisms are not typically individuated by the range of behaviour they cause, because they have an active role in the emergence of complex autonomous dynamics. 6 Cognitive mechanisms are studied with three convergent methods : Decomposition : Cognitive mechanisms are methodologically desintegrated into component parts, whose behaviour is characterised in isolation. Recomposition : These components are conceptually integrated as functional parts of a broader system, which aggregate properties are modelled mechanistically. Situation : The mechanistic model is injected into specific ecological settings, and their coupling is used to predict and explain behaviour. Looking down, looking around, and looking up [5, 7] 7 Decomposition : Cognitive mechanisms are methodologically desintegrated into component parts, whose behaviour is characterised in isolation. Recomposition : These components are conceptually integrated as functional parts of a broader system, which aggregate properties are modelled mechanistically. Situation : The mechanistic model is injected into specific ecological settings, and their coupling is used to predict and explain behaviour. Looking down, looking around, and looking up [5, 7] Cognitive mechanisms are studied with three convergent methods : 7 Recomposition : These components are conceptually integrated as functional parts of a broader system, which aggregate properties are modelled mechanistically. Situation : The mechanistic model is injected into specific ecological settings, and their coupling is used to predict and explain behaviour. Looking down, looking around, and looking up [5, 7] Cognitive mechanisms are studied with three convergent methods : Decomposition : Cognitive mechanisms are methodologically desintegrated into component parts, whose behaviour is characterised in isolation. 7 Situation : The mechanistic model is injected into specific ecological settings, and their coupling is used to predict and explain behaviour. Looking down, looking around, and looking up [5, 7] Cognitive mechanisms are studied with three convergent methods : Decomposition : Cognitive mechanisms are methodologically desintegrated into component parts, whose behaviour is characterised in isolation. Recomposition : These components are conceptually integrated as functional parts of a broader system, which aggregate properties are modelled mechanistically. 7 Looking down, looking around, and looking up [5, 7] Cognitive mechanisms are studied with three convergent methods : Decomposition : Cognitive mechanisms are methodologically desintegrated into component parts, whose behaviour is characterised in isolation. Recomposition : These components are conceptually integrated as functional parts of a broader system, which aggregate properties are modelled mechanistically. Situation : The mechanistic model is injected into specific ecological settings, and their coupling is used to predict and explain