SOME ISSUES IN COMPUTATIONAL MODELLING;OCCAM'S RAZOR AND HEGEL'S HAIR GEL

摘要

We look at some of the assumptions made in the computational modelling of cognition. In particular, we look at some of the problems raised by the conventional modelling goal of simplicity. We review why cognitive modellers make certain choices and we emphasise the central role of abstraction. We conclude that Occam's Razor is only half the story in using implemented computational models to explain cognitive processing, and we raise a number of questions that point the way to a materialist position in computational cognitive modelling.