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Evaluating connectionism: A developmental perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2004

Claire F. O'Loughlin*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
Annette Karmiloff-Smith*
Affiliation:
Neurocognitive Development Unit, Institute of Child Health, LondonWC1N 1EH, UK

Abstract:

This commentary questions the applicability of the Newell Test for evaluating the utility of connectionism. Rather than being a specific theory of cognition (because connectionism can be used to model nativist, behaviorist, or constructivist theories), connectionism, we argue, offers researchers a collection of computational and conceptual tools that are particularly useful for investigating and rendering specific fundamental issues of human development. These benefits of connectionism are not well captured by evaluating it against Newell's criteria for a unified theory of cognition.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003

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