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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

Many thanks to Otavio Bueno for making this possible.
10/10

arxiv.org/abs/2510.10251

Neural Hardware for the Language of Thought: New Rules for an Old Game

The Language of Thought (LOT) hypothesis posits that at least some important cognitive processes involve language-like representations. These representations must be processed by appropriate hardware....

arxiv.org

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

So, I will try to put together a monograph and turn this paper into at least two of its chapters. The monograph is tentatively entitled Neurocognitive Architecture: Foundations for a Unified Theory of Mind and is under contract with Springer for their Synthese Library.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

The paper is 25,000 words, too long for a journal article and yet rather compressed. Several aspects deserve to be addressed in more detail. It would also benefit from being placed in a broader context.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

As always, further feedback is welcome, especially in light of the following.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

The paper defends the Nonclassical LOT thesis that some neural representations represent in a (natural) language-like way, yet they encode information nondigitally and are processed by ordinary (Nonclassical) neural computations that rely not only on syntactic structure but other features.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

(3) It discusses the degree to which different LOT hypotheses are supported or undermined by neuroscientific evidence about computational architecture and concludes that Classical LOT is ruled out while a version of Nonclassical LOT is plausible.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

2) It rebuts some popular arguments for Classical (Fodorian) LOT, including the argument that neuroscientific evidence is merely relevant to how computations are implemented.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

The paper advances the debate in three ways: (1) It distinguishes different LOT hypotheses—including Representational, Computational, Classical, and Nonclassical LOT hypotheses—in terms of the computational architecture they require. This clarifies LOT's empirical commitments.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

The main argument is the same but I've made a few tweaks and added some footnotes. I have now posted it on the ArXiv (link in comments) and a couple of other places so it can be cited in a stable form.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 3h

A paper on mine entitled "Neural Hardware for the Language of Thought: New Rules for an Old Game" has been circulating since early 2025 and has been cited in print. I have received anonymous feedback from some Classical LOT supporters and made some revisions to address their concerns.
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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 5d

👇

Mariel Goddu @marielgoddu.bsky.social · 5d

Our chapter on cognitive homologies *in print* ! 🤩
@beakr.bsky.social @gualtiero.bsky.social
Thread & link 🔗 below👇

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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 5d

is this better: www.academia.edu/144367493/Th...

The Neurobiophysical Substrate of Consciousness

I argue that creature consciousness depends on specific neurobiophysical properties that constitute the medium for phenomenally conscious states. Such properties are not medium flexible in the way req...

www.academia.edu

1

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 6d

I don't think you need to go to a lower leve: bsky.app/profile/gual...

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 6d

My commentary on Anil Seth's forthcoming BBS target article defending biological naturalism has been accepted. It's entitled "The Neurobiophysical Substrate of Consciousness":
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1 3 1

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 6d

For now I've just posted it on Academia.edu. If you want to see it but lack access, let me know.
4/4

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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 6d

Therefore, computational functionalism fails and one of the following holds: biological naturalism, a nonbiological yet noncomputational version of functionalism, or a view according to which consciousness requires specific (macro)physical qualities.
3/

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1 4

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 6d

Abstract: I argue that creature consciousness depends on specific neurobiophysical properties that constitute the medium for phenomenally conscious states. Such properties are not medium flexible in the way required by computational functionalism.
2/

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1 1 2

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 6d

My commentary on Anil Seth's forthcoming BBS target article defending biological naturalism has been accepted. It's entitled "The Neurobiophysical Substrate of Consciousness":
1/

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Reposted by Gualtiero Piccinini

Alfredo Vernazzani @alfredovernazzani.bsky.social · 24d

This book is finally out. You'll find there our chapter on "Frames of discovery and the format of cognitive representation" by yours truly and Dimitri Coelho Mollo.

Thanks to @gualtiero.bsky.social for the amazing editirial work!

Beate Krickel @beakr.bsky.social · 25d

😊 So proud this is out now:
"Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience

Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social!

www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...

Neurocognitive Foundations of Mind

This volume provides a cohesive and comprehensive case that cognitive neuroscience is maturing into an integrated, interdisciplinary science that is transforming our understanding of the mind. The ris...

www.routledge.com

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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 25d

I’ll send you an e-copy

1

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · 25d

Neurocognitive Foundations of Mind is out. Check it out.

Beate Krickel @beakr.bsky.social · 25d

😊 So proud this is out now:
"Cognitive ontology in terms of cognitive homology: The role of brain, behavior, and environment for individuating cognitive categories" #philsci #CognitiveNeuroscience

Thanks to @marielgoddu.bsky.social and to @gualtiero.bsky.social!

www.routledge.com/Neurocogniti...

Neurocognitive Foundations of Mind

This volume provides a cohesive and comprehensive case that cognitive neuroscience is maturing into an integrated, interdisciplinary science that is transforming our understanding of the mind. The ris...

www.routledge.com

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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · Sep 8

Revealed: the huge growth of Myanmar scam centres that may hold 100,000 trafficked people - The Guardian

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · Sep 5

You’re barely getting started 🤣

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · Sep 5

The gist of the whole project is that levels of organization are interdependent. No to strong synchronic emergence (though yes to diachronic emergence), no to reduction or autonomy, yes to integration, multiscale modeling, multilevel mechanistic explanation.

Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · Sep 5

that article is too specific for your purposes. this is better: academic.oup.com/monist/artic...

An Egalitarian Account of Composition and Realization

Abstract. I argue that wholes are neither identical to nor (completely) distinct from their parts. Instead, wholes are invariants under some transformation

academic.oup.com

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Gualtiero Piccinini @gualtiero.bsky.social · Sep 5

Bob continued to publish in philosophy into his 80s. Everything I read by him is insightful, original, and worth reading and thinking about.

I learned a lot from Bob. I will always remember his warmth, kindness, and insight.
5/5

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