9.52 / 9.914 / Psychology 2180
Computational Cognitive Science: Concepts and Theories

Please post your discussion note on the Stellar discussion board. If you do not yet have a stellar account, email your note to both instructurs: jbt@mit.edu, scarey@wjh.harvard.edu


Note on readings for Sept. 17

Try to read both the papers by Goodman and Osherson et al., and at least one of Quine or Jefferys & Berger. In class, Susan and Josh will present the relevant material from Quine and Jefferys & Berger in our set-up for the discussion.

Questions for discussion

Compare and contrast the fundamental question about induction raised by Goodman's grue problem with that raised by the Osherson et al. paper.

Goodman actually raises two related problems. What are they, and what would you give as an answer to each?

Will there be a single answer to the question Osherson et al. raise?

Which aspect of the problem of induction does Quine's paper "Natural Kinds" address? How?

Which issue does the Jefferys and Berger paper address? How?

Feel free to address any or all of these questions that speak to you.

Extra credit question:
Jerry Fodor has said of Goodman's book that it "changed, probably permanently, the way we think about the problem of induction, and hence about a constellation of related problems like learning and the nature of rational decision. This is the work of contemporary philosophy that I would most like to have written." Why is Fodor so fond of this work? What has been its legacy for the study of induction and learning in cognitive science?