Marr and reductionism

Topics in Cognitive Science
John Bickle

Abstract

David Marr's three-level method for completely understanding a cognitive system and the importance he attaches to the computational level are so familiar as to scarcely need repeating. Fewer seem to recognize that Marr defends his famous method by criticizing the "reductionistic approach." This sets up a more interesting relationship between Marr and reductionism than is usually acknowledged. I argue that Marr was correct in his criticism of the reductionists of his time-they were only describing (cellular activity), not explaining (cognitive functions). But a careful metascientific account of reductionistic neuroscience over the past two decades reveals that Marr's criticisms no longer have force. Contemporary neuroscience now explains cognition directly, although in a fashion-causal-mechanistically-quite different than Marr recommended. So while Marr was correct to reject the reductionism of his day and offer an alternative method for genuinely explaining cognition, contemporary cognitive scientists now owe us a new defense of Marr's famous method and the advantages of its explanations over the type now pursued successfully in current reductionist neuroscience. There are familiar reasons for thinking that this debt will not b...Continue Reading

References

Jan 1, 1972·Journal of Neurophysiology·C G GrossD B Bender
Aug 21, 2007·Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN·Douglas M Silverstein, Randall Craver
Jul 28, 2013·Science·Steve RamirezSusumu Tonegawa

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Mar 17, 2015·Topics in Cognitive Science·Barton L Anderson
Jul 14, 2019·Hippocampus·Rahul K Rathour, Rishikesh Narayanan
Sep 25, 2019·Psychological Medicine·Markus I Eronen
Nov 12, 2019·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Ann-Sophie Barwich
Aug 9, 2019·Topics in Cognitive Science·Andrea Bender
Dec 29, 2020·Journal of Theoretical Biology·Ann-Sophie Barwich
Sep 25, 2021·Nature Neuroscience·Matteo GrassoGiulio Tononi
Aug 2, 2020·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Patricia L LockwoodSteve W C Chang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Medizinische Monatsschrift für Pharmazeuten
S Heinzl
Brain Research
Suzanna Becker, Nathaniel D Daw
Topics in Cognitive Science
Valerie G Hardcastle, Kiah Hardcastle
Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine
Jinde CaoAhmed Elaiw
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved