Write a review paper on the similarities and differences between the dynamical systems approach to cognition (i.e., mind as a Watt governor) and the CUM approach to cognition (i.e., mind as computation). In your description, be sure to include the weaknesses of CUM and discuss the advantages of dynamical systems.
We have focused on the idea that cognition emerges via temporal dependencies between mind, body, and environment. The purpose of this prompt is to help you develop a deeper understanding of this essential idea, as captured by dynamical systems theory. Moreover, this prompt provides an opportunity for you to draw on your knowledge of recently learned material (from the previous modules) to uniquely situate dynamical systems theory within a larger explanatory framework of cognitive mechanisms and models. The best responses will include a clear separation of the similarities and differences between dynamical systems and CUM, and a clear separation of explicitly stated weaknesses of CUM and advantages of dynamical systems theory.
The ideas/questions below are designed to prompt your thinking. You do not need to integrate any of the ideas/questions into your responses; but you may find that focusing on one of these issues will help you write a targeted and concise response.
The concepts mind as a Watt governor and mind as a computer are just metaphors that help shed light on more fundamental, underlying processes. Be sure that you understand the core assumptions each metaphor is trying to get at, and avoid the confusion in thinking that the mind is literally a Watt governor or literally a computer (that would just be silly). I think framing your response around these two metaphors might be helpful.
For weaknesses and advantages, can you think of particular kinds of cognitive processes (perception, learning, coordinating actions, language comprehension, problem-solving) that dynamical systems might explain better than CUM? Why? Alternatively, pretend you are an artificial intelligence designer (pretend you are an engineer at West world, or a robotics at Boston Dynamics) and consider why a dynamical systems mind might be superior to a CUM mind for your AI creations, particularly for machines that must adapt to unpredictable and chaotic environments.
For similarities and differences, this really is the focus of all three core readings: Bermuda textbook, van Genders Its about time chapter, and Barrett Beyond the brain chapter. If you haven already, read (or reread) with the thought question in mind.
