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AUTISM, MODULARITY AND THEORIES OF MIND

CUNDALL, JR., MICHAEL K.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1054214126

Abstract Details

2003, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences : Philosophy.
In this dissertation I argue for a wider and more robust notion of the modularity of mind thesis. The developmental disorder of autism is the prime analytic tool for developing this approach. I argue that a variety of other approaches are deeply flawed in that they cannot account for the autistic spectrum disorder. I mean by this the autistic profile of deficits such as the lack of social interaction and the avoidance of social contact. I begin with Fodorian modularity. I argue that autism presents us with a case that threatens the division Fodor has between modules and central systems. The autistic disorder exemplifies an area of higher cognition (theory of mind) that has many of the properties commonly associated with modular processing. Since Fodor cannot opt for a modular account of theory of mind it must be that his account of central systems is incorrect. I next argue that Baron-Cohen’s amended modular architecture cannot explain autism since the autistic deficit cannot be due to a defective module for processing intentional action. Furthermore, his use of modularity threatens to make his view of cognition incoherent. Finally I take up Gopnik and Meltzoff’s approach that eschews any type of modularity and instead posits a general learning mechanism. If autism, as they claim, were a general theorybuilding problem, then one should expect to see other behavioral deficits in other areas of autistic cognition. We do not. I then offer an alternative version of modularity inspired by Karmiloff-Smith (1992). It gives us advantages. On Karmiloff-Smith’s account we would expect the autistic deficit to have more perceptually basic components and recent research is bearing this out. Progressive modularity also provides us with a framework in which to understand the ways autistic persons understand the social world. This approach also seeks to unify the cognitive work being done on development with burgeoning work on development in neuroscience.
Dr. Robert C. Richardson (Advisor)
169 p.
Philosophy
autism; modularity; theories of mind; philosophical psychopathology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • CUNDALL, JR., M. K. (2003). AUTISM, MODULARITY AND THEORIES OF MIND [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1054214126

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • CUNDALL, JR., MICHAEL. AUTISM, MODULARITY AND THEORIES OF MIND. 2003. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1054214126.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • CUNDALL, JR., MICHAEL. "AUTISM, MODULARITY AND THEORIES OF MIND." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2003. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1054214126

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1054214126
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© 2003, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.