Prof. W. Frawley

Examination #3

December 8, 1997

Due December 15, 1997

All examinations must be typed.

Do not use the same evidence and examples in different questions.

Be specific. Focused answers are better than general ones.

Answer TWO of the following:

1. One goal of cognitive science might be called minimalism: to specify necessary. core mind or the minimal computational-representational system needed for intelligence. Discuss how minimalism applies to two the following: musical knowledge, mathematical knowledge, theory of mind.

2. Breakdown of the mind-brain can surface in at least three kinds of disruption:

a. deficits in representations themselves

b. deficits in the reporting of or access to representations across domains and subdomains

c. deficits in general processing

Discuss each kind of deficit using examples from visual agnosia, prosopagnosia, aphasia, and mindblindness.

3. Consciousness is a cover term for a variety of -- usually slippery -- mental phenomena: executive processing, awareness, control, metaknowledge, self, feelings, qualia, subjective unity, etc. Take one aspect of consciousness that is legitimized by cognitive science, and show how it is a valid object of inquiry and the kind of explanation that cognitive science requires. Then take another aspect of consciousness that must be eliminated or delegitimized because of what cognitive science has found, giving a similar explanation for its rejection. In other words, using one now-believable and one now-unbelievable aspect of consciousness as illustrations, explain how cognitive science clarifies the study of consciousness.