Semantics and Metaphysics in Informatics: Toward an Ontology of Tasks

  1. Carrie Figdor

Article first published online: 9 MAR 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-8765.2011.01133.x

Issue

Topics in Cognitive Science

Topics in Cognitive Science

Volume 3, Issue 2, pages 222–226, April 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Figdor, C. (2011), Semantics and Metaphysics in Informatics: Toward an Ontology of Tasks. Topics in Cognitive Science, 3: 222–226. doi: 10.1111/j.1756-8765.2011.01133.x

Author Information

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of Iowa

* should be sent to Carrie Figdor, Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, 260 English-Philosophy Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242. E-mail: carrie-figdor@uiowa.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 6 APR 2011
  2. Article first published online: 9 MAR 2011
  3. Received 28 May 2010; received in revised form 12 August 2010; accepted 22 September 2010

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Keywords:

  • Cognitive ontology;
  • Cognitive control;
  • Cognitive phenomics;
  • Cognitive tasks;
  • Informatics;
  • Response selection;
  • Cognitive neuroscience;
  • Semantics

Abstract

This article clarifies three principles that should guide the development of any cognitive ontology. First, that an adequate cognitive ontology depends essentially on an adequate task ontology; second, that the goal of developing a cognitive ontology is independent of the goal of finding neural implementations of the processes referred to in the ontology; and third, that cognitive ontologies are neutral regarding the metaphysical relationship between cognitive and neural processes.

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