On some fundamental distinctions of computationalism

William Demopoulos

pp. 79-96

in: Synthese 70 (1), 1987.

Abstract

The following paper presents a characterization of three distinctions fundamental to computationalism, viz., the distinction between analog and digital machines, representation and nonrepresentation-using systems, and direct and indirect perceptual processes. Each distinction is shown to rest on nothing more than the methodological principles which justify the explanatory framework of the special sciences.