Skip to the main content

Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.52685/cjp.22.66.8

Purposiveness of Human Behavior. Integrating Behaviorist and Cognitivist Processes/Models

Cristiano Castelfranchi ; National Research Council, Rome, Italy


Full text: english pdf 235 Kb

page 401-414

downloads: 421

cite


Abstract

We try not just to reconcile but to “integrate” Cognitivism and Behaviorism by a theory of different forms of purposiveness in behavior and mind. This also implies a criticism of the Dual System theory and a claim on the strong interaction and integration of Sist1 (automatic) and Sist2 (deliberative), based on reasons, preferences, and decisions. We present a theory of different kinds of teleology. Mere “functions” of the behavior: finalism not represented in the mind of the agent, not “regulating” the behavior. Two kinds of teleological mental representations: true “Goals” in control-theory, cybernetic view, with “goal-driven” behavior (intentional action); vs. Expectations in Anticipatory Classifiers: a reactive but anticipatory device, explaining the “instrumental” (finalistic) nature of Skinner’s reinforcement learning. We present different kinds of Goals and goal processing and on this ground the theory of what “intentions” are. On such basis, we can discuss Kathy Wilkes’s hint about the necessarily linguistic formulation of “intentions”; with the hypothesis that her intuition is not correct for any kind on “intention” which may be represented in sensory-motor format, but correct for “volition” and our will-strength for socially influencing ourselves.

Keywords

Teleology; goal theory; intentions; behaviorism; dual System.

Hrčak ID:

288528

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/288528

Publication date:

27.12.2022.

Visits: 1.107 *