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The Idealized Brain - by Michael D Kirchhoff (Paperback)

Name: The Idealized Brain - by Michael D Kirchhoff (Paperback)
Brand: MIT Press
SKU: 1010684286
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Highlights

A critical look at our modeling techniques, and what idealized modeling can tell us, if anything, about the mind and brain.
About the Author: Michael D. Kirchhoff is Professor in the School of Liberal Arts, University of Wollongong, Australia.
272 Pages
Science, Cognitive Science

Description

Book Synopsis

A critical look at our modeling techniques, and what idealized modeling can tell us, if anything, about the mind and brain.

In The Idealized Brain, Michael Kirchhoff explores the challenges of using idealized modeling in computational neuroscience. The book spans work on neural coding, deep learning, machine learning, AI, philosophy of cognitive science, and philosophy of science.

The author addresses many of the epistemic uses and harms of idealization across multiple scales and paradigms--from early biophysical models, information theory, neural coding, deep convolutional neural networks to explainable AI--highlighting connections that should have far-reaching consequences for both philosophy of cognitive science, methodology in computational neuroscience, and how we communicate the results of our research.

Kirchhoff argues that we need to place approximation methods such as idealization at the heart of our discussions in computational neuroscience, philosophy of neuroscience, philosophy of cognitive science, and philosophy of mind. Only then can we make progress to ensure that our interpretations of computational modeling of the mind and brain are robust and on a secure epistemic and metaphysical footing.

About the Author

Michael D. Kirchhoff is Professor in the School of Liberal Arts, University of Wollongong, Australia. He is the author of The Idealized Mind, The Idealized Brain (both MIT Press) and the coauthor of Extended Consciousness and Predictive Processing. Kirchhoff has received recognitions as a "Rising Star" and "Field Leader" in Philosophy and Epistemology & Scientific History from The Australian.

Specifications

Dimensions (Overall): 9.0 Inches (H) x 6.0 Inches (W)

Weight: .81 Pounds

Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up

Number of Pages: 272

Genre: Science

Sub-Genre: Cognitive Science

Publisher: MIT Press

Format: Paperback

Author: Michael D Kirchhoff

Language: English

Street Date: December 15, 2026

TCIN: 1010684286

UPC: 9780262054928

Item Number (DPCI): 247-15-3765

Origin: Made in the USA or Imported

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