Fodor’s modularity thesis
E1031544
Fodor’s modularity thesis is a theory in cognitive science proposing that certain mental processes, especially perceptual systems, are carried out by domain-specific, informationally encapsulated, and innately specified modules in the mind.
Statements (48)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
theory in cognitive science
ⓘ
theory of mind ⓘ |
| addressesQuestion | how the mind is functionally organized ⓘ |
| appliesPrimarilyTo |
language perception
ⓘ
perception ⓘ |
| associatedWith | classical computational theory of mind ⓘ |
| assumes | distinct input systems for different kinds of information ⓘ |
| characterizesModulesAs |
associated with fixed neural architecture
ⓘ
domain-specific ⓘ fast ⓘ having characteristic ontogeny ⓘ informationally encapsulated ⓘ innately specified ⓘ limited in central accessibility ⓘ mandatory in operation ⓘ prone to specific breakdown patterns ⓘ shallow in output ⓘ |
| claims | some mental processes are modular ⓘ |
| contrastsWith |
connectionist models of cognition
ⓘ
massively modular theories of mind ⓘ |
| criticizedFor |
restricting modularity mainly to input systems
ⓘ
strong assumptions about informational encapsulation ⓘ strong assumptions about innateness of modules ⓘ |
| distinguishesFrom | central cognitive processes ⓘ |
| field |
cognitive science
ⓘ
philosophy of mind ⓘ psychology ⓘ |
| focusesOn |
input systems
ⓘ
perceptual systems ⓘ |
| hasStatus | influential but controversial ⓘ |
| holdsThat | central cognition is non-modular ⓘ |
| implies | limited influence of beliefs on early perceptual processing ⓘ |
| influenced |
debates on encapsulation of perception
ⓘ
evolutionary psychology discussions of modules ⓘ theories of language processing ⓘ |
| involvesConcept |
cognitive architecture
ⓘ
domain specificity ⓘ informational encapsulation ⓘ innateness ⓘ |
| mainWork | The Modularity of Mind NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| opposes | thoroughly holistic models of cognition ⓘ |
| proposedBy | Jerry Fodor NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| publicationYearOfMainWork | 1983 ⓘ |
| relatedTo |
faculty psychology
ⓘ
nativism in cognitive science ⓘ |
| usedInDebatesOn |
architecture of language comprehension
ⓘ
cognitive penetrability of perception ⓘ modularity of syntax and semantics ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
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