Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is cognitive science? - CORRECT ANSWER - The interdisciplinary study of mind
and intelligence, embracing psychology, biology (neuroscience, evolution, and animal behavior),
philosophy, computer science (AI), language, linguistics, and social sciences of anthropology
and economics. Cognitive science's focus is on cognition itself in humans, animals, and
machines
Important concepts in cognitive science: - CORRECT ANSWER - Representation: driver's
license
Computation: from abacus to supercomputers
Coding: "What should you do on oh and two?"
Subfields of Cognitive Science: - CORRECT ANSWER - Psychology, Biology, Language
and Linguistics, Philosophy, Computer Science, Social Sciences, Cognitive Science's Big Tent
Psychology: - CORRECT ANSWER - Briefly reviews the history of psychology and its on
again/off again interest in cognition, its turn to behaviorism in the 20th century, and the more
recent connections between cognition and neuroscience. It also discusses animal cognition in an
evolutionary context.
Biology - CORRECT ANSWER - Briefly reviews the history of biology and emphasizes
the tremendous growth in biological knowledge since Watson, Crick, and Franklin elucidated the
structure of DNA. It also shows the search for connections between neuroscience and cognitive
science. It also details the principles of evolution and the continuity of cognition in the animal
(including humans) kingdom.
Language and Linguistics - CORRECT ANSWER - Briefly reviews the study of language
and linguistics and concentrates on topics such as the nature of language learning, comparative
linguistics, and intimate links between language and thought.
,Philosophy - CORRECT ANSWER - This section gives philosophy its due as the original
discipline interested in human cognition. It also shows how philosophical questions gave rise the
other disciplines interested in cognitive science as well as modern philosophy's current interest
and approaches to the field.
Computer Science - CORRECT ANSWER - Briefly reviews human attempts on
mechanizing thought including mechanical devices such as Babbage's through the latest
experimental computer designs. This section emphasizes definitions of AI (e.g., the Turing Test
and others), research in AI, and illustrates its successes and challenges. It also provides
arguments as to why AI is a necessary branch of cognitive science.
Social Sciences - CORRECT ANSWER - The history of the two specific social sciences
covered: anthropology and economics are briefly covered. After, their contributions to cognitive
science are recognized including cognitive anthropology, economic decision-making, and how
culture affects cognition.
Cognitive Science's Big Tent - CORRECT ANSWER - The chapter concludes by arguing
that cognitive science is young and multidisciplinary. It points out the advantages and
disadvantages of cognitive science's multidisciplinary nature. Having multiple approaches to
cognitive science is an advantage, as each discipline's peculiar focus might elucidate data that
others might miss. At the same time, the approach is disadvantaged because the language and
jargon each discipline uses might not be understood by the others. The youth of cognitive science
often makes its subfields uneasy about their partnership.
Origins of Psychology
Late starter 1879
Wundt - CORRECT ANSWER - Voluntarism
Introspection
Origins of Psychology
Others - CORRECT ANSWER - Titchener: Structuralism
James
, Origins of Psychology
Functionalism - CORRECT ANSWER - Uses of psychology: Applied psychology
Origins of Psychology
Crisis of introspection - CORRECT ANSWER - Wurzburg School
Origins of Psychology
Behaviorism - CORRECT ANSWER - Watson
Skinner
"CS IS THE CREATIONISM OF PSYCHOLOGY"
Origins of Psychology
Cognitive "revolution" - CORRECT ANSWER - Slow turn to modern cognitive
psychology
WWII computers and code breaking
Piaget and childlike thinking
Animal behavior and cognitive explanations
Ethology
Animal cognition: e.g., SEYFARTH, MARLAR, AND CHENEY (VERVET MONKEY
SIGNALS)
Artificial Intelligence
Modern General Psychology
History/Methods - CORRECT ANSWER - Short history: psychology finds mind,
psychology loses mind, psychology find mind again
Introspective psychology gave way to behavioral psychology and, after WWII, a new kind of
cognitive psychology arose, one based on computers (hardware) and learning (software).
Modern General Psychology