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Cued and Detached Representations in Animal Cognition

Gärdenfors, Peter LU (1995) In Lund University Cognitive Studies 38.
Abstract
This paper analyzes the function of certain aspects of cognition, like planning, deceiving, self-awareness, and communication. I distinguish between two kinds of representations of information. A cued representation stands for something that is present in the current situation. Detached representations stand for objects or events that are neither present in the situation nor triggered by some recent situation. The inner environment of an animal is defined as the collection of all detached representations. The fundamental difference between signals and symbols is that the reference of a symbol is a detached representation, while a signal refers to a cued representation.



Detached representations make planning possible. I... (More)
This paper analyzes the function of certain aspects of cognition, like planning, deceiving, self-awareness, and communication. I distinguish between two kinds of representations of information. A cued representation stands for something that is present in the current situation. Detached representations stand for objects or events that are neither present in the situation nor triggered by some recent situation. The inner environment of an animal is defined as the collection of all detached representations. The fundamental difference between signals and symbols is that the reference of a symbol is a detached representation, while a signal refers to a cued representation.



Detached representations make planning possible. I distinguish between immediate planning, where plans are made for present needs, and anticipatory planning, where future needs are predicted.



The evolution of self-consciousness is outlined as a series of steps. The first is when other agents are seen as having an inner environment of their own. This is when deception becomes possible. A further step is when the agent realizes that the other agents' representations of the external world includes a representation of the inner environment of the agent itself. Then the agent can become self-conscious since it can form representations of its own representations. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Working paper/Preprint
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Cognitive Studies
in
Lund University Cognitive Studies
volume
38
external identifiers
  • scopus:0029557230
ISSN
1101-8453
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5e8b8d72-b4e4-4def-a248-7bfce7125797 (old id 526181)
alternative location
http://www.lucs.lu.se/LUCS/038/LUCS.038.pdf
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:30:58
date last changed
2021-08-01 05:42:25
@misc{5e8b8d72-b4e4-4def-a248-7bfce7125797,
  abstract     = {{This paper analyzes the function of certain aspects of cognition, like planning, deceiving, self-awareness, and communication. I distinguish between two kinds of representations of information. A cued representation stands for something that is present in the current situation. Detached representations stand for objects or events that are neither present in the situation nor triggered by some recent situation. The inner environment of an animal is defined as the collection of all detached representations. The fundamental difference between signals and symbols is that the reference of a symbol is a detached representation, while a signal refers to a cued representation.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Detached representations make planning possible. I distinguish between immediate planning, where plans are made for present needs, and anticipatory planning, where future needs are predicted.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The evolution of self-consciousness is outlined as a series of steps. The first is when other agents are seen as having an inner environment of their own. This is when deception becomes possible. A further step is when the agent realizes that the other agents' representations of the external world includes a representation of the inner environment of the agent itself. Then the agent can become self-conscious since it can form representations of its own representations.}},
  author       = {{Gärdenfors, Peter}},
  issn         = {{1101-8453}},
  keywords     = {{Cognitive Studies}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Working Paper}},
  series       = {{Lund University Cognitive Studies}},
  title        = {{Cued and Detached Representations in Animal Cognition}},
  url          = {{http://www.lucs.lu.se/LUCS/038/LUCS.038.pdf}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{1995}},
}