The Modularity of Mind

Fodor J.A.

This study synthesizes current information from the various fields of cognitive science in support of a new and exciting theory of mind. Most psychologists study horizontal processes like memory and information flow; Fodor postulates a vertical and modular psychological organization underlying biologically coherent behaviors. This view of mental architecture is consistent with the historical tradition of faculty psychology while integrating a computational approach to mental processes. One of the most notable aspects of Fodor’s work is that it articulates features not only of speculative cognitive architectures but also of current research in artificial intelligence.

---

Table of contents :
Cover – Front……Page 1
Cover – Back……Page 2
Acknowledgments……Page 3
Contents……Page 4
1 – Four Accounts of Mental Structure……Page 5
2 – A Functional Taxonomy of Cognitive Mechanisms……Page 43
3 – Input Systems as Modules……Page 52
4 – Central Systems……Page 106
5 – Caveats and Conclusions……Page 125
Notes……Page 136
References……Page 147