6 Sep
2010
6 Sep
'10
1:21 p.m.
The next talk in the CEU Cognitive Development Center seminar series
will be given by
Dr. Jean Mandler
University of California, San Diego and University College London
Date: September 8, 2010, *3 PM* (NOTE: this talk will not be held at
the usual time!)
Location: CEU Cognitive Development Center
Hattyú u. 14, Budapest, 3rd floor
*Title: The spatial foundation of the conceptual system …and how we go
beyond it*
Abstract: A model of early concept formation is presented that
accounts for conceptual activity in the first year of life, describes
how the increasing complexity of conceptual development comes about,
and predicts the order in which new types of information accrue to the
core conceptual system. It lists a small set of primitives used by a
domain-general mechanism of perceptual meaning analysis (PMA) to
redescribe motion and other spatio-temporal information into a
schematic spatial form that results in potentially accessible concepts
(Mandler, 2004). This mechanism avoids having to posit separate innate
domain-specific modules. Combinations of the primitives it operates
with are sufficient to provide the first meanings used to understand
events, make inferences, and categorize objects into different kinds.
Only as infants begin to move themselves around in the world and act
on objects do internal feelings of force get integrated into existing
spatially based concepts involving causation, and internal feelings of
trying get integrated into existing spatially based concepts of
goal-directed behavior. Concepts of knowing and emotions, as well as
sensory concepts such as colors, are still later acquisitions because
of lack of a structured spatial core into which the relevant
unstructured internal experiences can be integrated. In these cases
language may be required to provide conceptual descriptions.
Attendees are encouraged to read the attached paper as background, in
order to facilitate discussion after the talk.
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