Panel Summary: Symbolism and Connectionism Paradigms

The aim of this chapter is to report the panel discussion on symbolism and connectionism paradigms. In particular, the following hot point are analysed: what cognitive phenomena are most difficult for connectionists to explain? what cognitive phenomena are most naturally explained in connectionist terms? is symbolic deduction a central kind of human thinking? How do people make deductions? is nondeductive reasoning done in accord with the laws of probability? what areas of knowledge do you have that are easily described in terms of symbolic rules? concepts reduced to rules, concepts reduced to networks; symbolic and connectionist mechanisms of analogy; planning, decision, explanation, learn…