The metaphorical foundations of computing in the cognitive sciences and the philosophy of mind

Abstract

The central focus of this article is the methodological prerequisites for origin of a computer metaphor in cognitive sciences and philosophy of mind. We consider the principles of metaphorical transfer of such concepts as “algorithm”, “calculation”, “determinacy”, “discretization”, “functionality”, etc. from the theoretic areas of the computer sciences and machine intelligence in various philosophic directions, investigating mental processes. In this paper, we prove ontological incompatibility of the principles of operation of the computer with the principles of work of a brain and consciousness, analyzing weaknesses of the computer metaphor used in theories of computing functionalism. The main line of arguments is based on several points: “indistinct” ontology of a symbol in abstract and physical computing systems, a problem of the addressed memory, a problem of a mental causation, physiological specifics of a brain as information system. The important place in reasoning is taken by transition from a direct metaphor “brain-computer” to an analytical problem of logical representability of mental processes in the form of computation. In this case mind as an object is represented not in vulgar physicalist sense but as a reference of some universum of reasoning. These positions become stronger in the context of the abstract universal nature of the computation understood as process of transformation of structure of input information to structures of output information, other than the first. Thus, at all methodological restrictions the computer metaphor represents the useful analytical tool, which keeps popularity in cognitive sciences and philosophy of consciousness.