Exploring the Reality of the Knowledge Level: Pragmatism Embodied
- Jeremy Young, Institute of Cognitive Science, Carleton Universiry, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Robert West, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
AbstractAllen Newell’s Knowledge Level theory is a philosophical position on the reality of knowledge that is best understood through the lens of Pragmatism--specifically, the view that the practical effects of general concepts are indelibly linked with the reality of those concepts. Consequently, the reality of the knowledge level is context-dependent. Newell’s theory reduces the complexity of analyzing every mechanism behind intelligence systems by abstracting away details irrelevant to predicting behavior and, as such, is more important than ever in light of current challenges in cognitive science.