Abduction and computation

Abstract

In the thesis, Fodor’s arguments against computationalism are defeated. His arguments

appeal to syntactic constraints and intractability. We argue that arguments

based on syntactic constraints are not satisfactory. We then argue that the argument

via intractability is not satisfactory either.

We also discuss various approaches to the problem of abduction in a computationalist

setting. We argue that the social solution that human everyday cognitive

activity is not isotropic and Quinean is correct. Secondly, we argue that the local

solution is too preliminary a proposal. We give our objections concerning the calculation

of the effect to effort ratio and the claim that memory organization leads

one to relevant information. Thirdly, we argue that the natural language approach

is circular. Fourthly, we arguedthat the web search approach provides a partial account

of finding relevant information but leaves out the key problem of evaluating

the search results. Fifthly, we argue that the global workspace approach relegates

the most important part of the solution to consciousness.

In the end, we give a framework sketching mechanisms that could solve the

problem of abduction.