Computation and cognition: toward a foundation for cognitive science
Computation and cognition: toward a foundation for cognitive science
Artificial intelligence: the very idea
Artificial intelligence: the very idea
Mind design
A neurocomputational perspective
A neurocomputational perspective
The rediscovery of the mind
Computer science as empirical inquiry: symbols and search
Communications of the ACM
Neural Network Perception for Mobile Robot Guidance
Neural Network Perception for Mobile Robot Guidance
Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages and Computability
Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages and Computability
What the #$*%! is a Subsymbol?
Minds and Machines
Moving the goal posts: a reply to Dawson and Piercey
Minds and Machines
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The notion of a `symbol' plays an important role in the disciplines of Philosophy, Psychology, Computer Science, and Cognitive Science. However, there is comparatively little agreement on how this notion is to be understood, either between disciplines, or even within particular disciplines. This paper does not attempt to defend some putatively `correct' version of the concept of a `symbol.' Rather, some terminological conventions are suggested, some constraints are proposed and a taxonomy of the kinds of issue that give rise to disagreement is articulated. The goal here is to provide something like a `geography' of the various notions of `symbol' that have appeared in the various literatures, so as to highlight the key issues and to permit the focusing of attention upon the important dimensions. In particular, the relationship between `tokens' and `symbols' is addressed. The issue of designation is discussed in some detail. The distinction between simple and complex symbols is clarified and an apparently necessary condition for a system to be potentially symbol, or token bearing, is introduced.