CogOnt Seminar: J. McCaffrey

Joe McCaffrey (University of Nebraska, Omaha), Atlas of the Mind: Neural Degeneracy and Pluralistic Ontologies

Part of our ongoing online seminar series.  See the full list of talks here.

Register using this link: https://pitt.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KMNKu4fmQ9Wh5ZjvXJ3qQA

Please note, registration will be for the entire seminar series.

ABSTRACT:  The recent debate on “Cognitive Ontology” has at its core the assumption that there is a single, correct taxonomy of mental kinds. In this talk, I examine the assumption that there could be a single “map”–instantiated in a database or taxonomy–of mental kinds. I argue that this assumption is mistaken, and illustrate how neural degeneracy (i.e. different brain structures perform “the same” function at different times) in neurotypical individuals and patient populations creates a need for plural taxonomies of mental kinds. Thus, the development of cognitive ontologies is more like constructing an “atlas” or collection of maps rather than representing a unified taxonomy.