DOCUMENT RESUME ED 275 159 FL 016 058 AUTHOR Bierschenk, Bernhard; Bierschenk, Inger TITLE Concept Formulation, Part I: The Phenomenon of Cognition. Cognitive Science Research No. 10. INSTITUTION Lund Univ. (Sweden). Cognitive Science Research. PUB DATE 86 NOTE 26p.; For Parts II and III, see FL 016 059-060. PUB TYPE Information Analyses (070) -- Reports - Evaluative/Feasibility (142) EARS PRICE MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Artificial Languages; *Cognitive Processes; Comparative Analysis; Computer Oriented Programs; *Concept Formation; *Epistemology; Foreign Countries; *Language Processing; Learning Theories; Models; Neurolinguistics; *Psycholinguistics; Syntax ABSTRACT The first of three articles on the ways in which people formulate their observations, this paper considers the basic assumptions of both syntactic and paradigmatic models of cognition and their applications in natural (i.e., human) and artificial (i.e., computer) information processing. The analysis begins with background information on the nature of inventions and discoveries, the nature of perception, and modelling of the process of concept formulation. The differences between syntagmatic and paradigmatic processing models are then outlined, and the principles of operationalization, simulation, cross sectional analysis, and cross level analysis are examined as they are applied to models. The role of context in examination of languages is also discussed. A list of 38 references is appended. 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Concept Formulation Part I The Phenomenon of Cognition Bernhard Bierschenk Inger Bierschenk 1986 No. 10 Communications should be sent to: Cognitive Science Research Paradisgatan 5 Lund University S-223 50 Lund, Sweden Coordinator: Bernhard Bierschenk Department of Psychology I. Abstract A common way of looking at cognition builds on the generation and representation of knowledge based on syntactic models. Above all, in connection with computer applications, it is proposed that the syntactic models are of significance for research on language and cognition. In the representation of a cognitive phenomenon, language plays the central role. Therefore, a contrasting discussion of the basic assumptions of both syntactic and paradigmatic models is the starting point.of a method development that differs markedly from the common view of cognitive functions. This is the first of three articles about the way in which people formulate their obser- vations. 4 2 Essential to all cognitive science research shouldbe to in- clude physical variables if it shall becapable of providing realis- tic knowledge about (1) the theoreticaldevelopment of living and nonliving systems, (2) models in which cognition canbe reflected, and (3) how the models can beoperationalized. The focus of cogni- tive science research is on the brain,consciousness, and knowledge. Language has the central function ofbringing about information of cognitive nature for both impression andexpression. A study of lan- guage as an intentional actand not only as a direct descriptionof discrete (functional) states means thatlanguage is regarded as the key to a scientific understandingof consciousness and knoNeng. This orientation is presented in Figure 1. Thephenomenon of cognition is conceived as a product ofdynamic change within the field of ten- sion between the formal and thefactual sciences. Cognition is, therefore, restricted neither todesign nor to a manipulation of in- telligence variables. Examples of Inventions_ani.2LmompaigA New comml,nication systems have led to achange in the flow of information, which is to be seen in its form ofrepresentation and degree of abstractness. Advanced electronic textprocessing is inter- nationally expanding. Computerized textprocessing includes every- thing from interactive language translation toregistration of docu- ments. Characteristic of thesesystems is the formalization oi a priori selected linguistic attributes in purelylogical terms and the handling of complexity problems at theconstruction of language databases, that is data organization and retrieval. Itis important, therefore, that cognitive science research (1) emphasizes the understanding of the conditions ofinformation. processing within living and nonliving systems respectively, and (2) draws attention to the fact thatlearning and intelligence as problems oE research differ fundamentallyfrom consciousness and knowing. The specifically cognitive aspects of aresearch problem are not re- stricted within disciplinary boundaries, acircumstance that has CONC EPT1 FORMATION SEMANTICS CONCE,PT STRUCTURE )N FORMULATION PRINCIPLE KNOWING VCONSTRUCTION DISCOVERY PURPOSE TRANSFORMATION ECOLOGICAL EXEMPLES 3 COGNITIVQSCIENCE RESEARCH NONLIVING /r MODELLING SYSTEMS KNOWLEDGE-GOAL UNIVERSAL )FIGANIZATION COMPUTATION RULES Cognitive science at the cutting edge of living and nonliving systems a been recognized through some ongoin neration across disciplines (Miller & Gazzaliga, 1984). ..)wever, ( 's cooperation has not come about as a result of similar me-hods techniques but merely because of the common intek-' among sc.,-..tists to for- malize (logical calculation) the inlo7 phenome 1, Nelson (1982), for example, writes that " the logir u ' is ()thing but a system of recursive rules embodied i *-eur11 item. He aims at proving the hypotheses that lo,TJ' -.1,11 grammar, electronic circuits, and cognit, AA' :n be explained interpreted with John von ':.)7) recursive func- t.Lon theory in mind, Pounda, (7! ..cer. A more experi- mental approach representing 1ea.1-i taken by Papert (1980) who with reference to tr'h.es to map out the lo- gical form that operates in learning :.1.aematica1 concepts. The de- velopment of thinking in a cognitive science perspective has been presented by De Mey (1982) with the purpose of illustrating con- sci wqness and knowledge. But Newell and Simon (1972), above all, entrated their efforts upon a logical calculation bf the ltar1111.9 process through algorithmization of problem solving stra- tegies. This effort is based on the assumption that intelligence is the characteristiC aspect of thinking, the validity of which the authors have not tested experimentally, however. Further, associa- tions of memory are supnosed to be i sufficient condition for a se- quential organization cognitivc operations. Some measurement of an organism's ability tu rganize single mental operations so that they correspond to the organizaZ7ion required by a certain problem has not been the aim. Instead, ::omputerized irstructions denote that certain cognitive operations have to be activated in a prescribed . order. The natural and artificial context respectively of information processing sets the fundamental frame for an investigation of which strategies are used by adults when they formulate themselves verbal- ly. During centuries, much work has been done concerning the correct use of language, partly as grammar writing, partly as the establish- ing of conventions for text creation and interpretation. It is ob- 8 5 vious from research literature. however, that there is a general skepticism toriards pure syntactic or semantic approaches as basis for developing theories of language and language use. The same holds for the mathematical and metamathematical approaches devel- oped for the purpose of designing models for representing interna- lized procedures. Idventions The progress within electronics has led to the growth of the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Along with the computeriza- tion protocols have been constructed to specify an electronic coding of in:formation at various levels of representation. Vision. The term computer vision is used to denote.those re- search efforts dealing with the building in of a visual system into the computer. One protocol developed which has been internationally accepted is " Picture Description Instructions "(PDI). It means, in short, that graphical characters are displayed on the TV-screen by instructions to a terminal to produce geometrical primitives. These are (1) point, (2) line, (3) arc, (4) rectangle, and (5) poly- gon. They are used to constrUct " images " on the screen. The cogni- tive functions assumed are identical with computational functions used in the identifying and grouping of lines (Winston, 1975), and in the discrimination and association of "features "(E.J. Gibson, 1969). The laws of electronics prerequire no perspective, only a multiplicity of viewpoints. Semantics. Computational semantics require, rules for the pre- sentation of alpha-numeric characters. The rules are defined in va- rious internationally accepted protocols. By processing characters and strings of characters, systemsof words and meanings are built up, under