Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Epistemology: questions regarding the discrete model |
Posted by: | Patrick E.C. Merlevede, MSc. (jobEQ.com) |
Date/Time: | 05/01/2003 19:59:12 |
John, especially that you wrote “on second thought, I recommend that all readers except Patrick read the article cited” triggered a state known as “confusion”. It can be summarized by the question: “Am I missing something here?” You wrote: "thinking (Stimulus-Response) about models adequate to describe (let alone explain) human behavior continues decades after Chomsky's review" 1. My map of the world is that the cognitive science movement replaced both Skinner's thinking as well as Chomsky's original thinking and became the new mainstream thinking. First Question to John “what’s your map about the current mainstream?” 2. Cognitive scientists are exactly researching what's going on between stimulus & response, so they do acknowledge the importance of the "contribution of the organism". They certainly do not do what I would call “thinking (Stimulus-Response) about models”. Second question: according to you, are cognitive scientists trapped in ““thinking (Stimulus-Response) about models”? 3. But they do set up experiments to prove their models and I have the impression that Chomsky agrees with the careful use of experiments as proof. Third question: “Am I missing something in Chomsky’s view about the use of experiments?” 4. Given this map of the world, I don't see "A deep appreciation of Chomsky's points would be an effective antidote - if it were read and understood. ". So either an antidote is not needed or I need the antidote, too… 4th question: If your assessment is that I don’t understand Chomsky’s points, in stead of recommending people to read the article and figure out what it means it would be more helpful for me if you could to point to specific passages or at least sections of the article which you think I’m not getting. (Extra motivation for pursuing this discussing: In the case you think I didn’t get the antidote, to my defense, given the article was written in 1959 and according to you did not achieve the aim is should have achieved, I think that a more “simplified” or “accessible” explanation is needed for most NLP practitioners (or at least for those without a BA in a field where they have been studying Skinner and/or Chomsky, or equivalent through self-study).) Always willing to learn, and very happy & appreciating to get answers to my "utterances". Patrick |