Minds, Brains, Computers

* Emphasizes the computational theory of mind in both its digital and connectionist forms. * Explains the basic concepts rather than particular hypotheses and experiments. * Provides historical background to theory of mind: philosophical, psychological, biological and computational. Minds, Brains, Computers serves as both an historical and interdisciplinary introduction to the foundations of cognitive science. Tracing the history of central concepts from the nineteenth century to the present, this study surveys the significant contributions of philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and computer science. The volume also investigates the theory of mind from two contrasting approaches: the digital computer vs. neural network models. Authoritative and comprehensive, this is the ideal text for introductory courses in cognitive science as well as an excellent supplementary text for courses in philosophy of mind. Minds, Brains, Computers serves as both an historical and interdisciplinary introduction to the foundations of cognitive science.