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  • The journal of Cognitive Computation is defined in part by the notion that biologically inspired computational accounts are at the heart of cognitive processes in both natural and artificial systems. Many studies of various important aspects of cognition (memory, observational learning, decision making, reward prediction learning, attention control, etc.) have been made by modelling the various experimental results using ever-more sophisticated computer programs. In this manner progressive inroads have been made into gaining a better understanding of the many components of cognition. Concomitantly in both science and science fiction the hope is periodically re-ignited that a man-made system can be engineered to be fully cognitive and conscious purely in virtue of its execution of an appropriate computer program. However, whilst the usefulness of the computational metaphor in many areas of psychology and neuroscience is clear, it has not gone unchallenged and in this article I will review a group of philosophical arguments that suggest either such unequivocal optimism in computationalism is misplaced—computation is neither necessary nor sufficient for cognition—or panpsychism (the belief that the physical universe is fundamentally composed of elements each of which is conscious) is true. I conclude by highlighting an alternative metaphor for cognitive processes based on communication and interaction.

  • Kevin O’Regan argues that seeing is a way of exploring the world, and that this approach helps us understand consciousness. O’Regan is interested in applying his ideas to the modeling of consciousness in robots. Hubert Dreyfus has raised a range of objections to traditional approaches to artificial intelligence, based on his reading of Heidegger. In light of this, I explore here ways in which O’Regan’s approach meets these Heideggerian considerations, and ways in which his account is more Heideggerian than that of Dreyfus. Despite these successes, O’Regan leaves out any role for emotion. This is an area where a Heideggerian perspective may offer useful insights into what more is needed for the sense of self O’Regan includes in his account in order for a robot to feel.

Last update from database: 10/17/26, 1:00 AM (UTC)