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symbolic-reference-problem
The difficulty of understanding symbols lies in their nonsymbolic referential meaning, which computational models struggle to replicate.
1 chapter across 1 book
Origins of the Modern Mind: Three Stages in the Evolution of Culture and Cognition (1991)Merlin Donald
Prologue
The prologue critiques cognitive science for neglecting the evolutionary and cultural origins of human cognition, emphasizing the need for broad integrative theories. Merlin Donald proposes that the modern human mind evolved through successive adaptations that created new representational systems, resulting in a mosaic cognitive architecture that integrates vestiges from earlier stages. He also highlights the transformative role of symbolic representation and external memory technologies in shaping the modern mind's structure.