Single Idea 16369

[catalogued under 18. Thought / B. Mechanics of Thought / 5. Mental Files]

Full Idea

For Papineau there is just one file, which is initialised on the first encounter with the object, stored in memory, reactivated on further encounters, and consolidated with familiarity. Accumulation of information shows it is the same file.

Gist of Idea

There is a single file per object, memorised, reactivated, consolidated and expanded

Source

report of David Papineau (Phenomenal and Perceptual Concepts [2006]) by François Recanati - Mental Files 7.2

Book Reference

Recanati,François: 'Mental Files' [OUP 2012], p.80


A Reaction

Recanati attempts to refute this view, defending a more complex taxonomy of files. I'm sympathetic to Papineau, as distinct shift in file type doesn't sound very plausible. Simplicity suggests Papineau as a better starting-point.

Related Ideas

Idea 16373 Encylopedic files have further epistemic links, beyond the basic one [Recanati]

Idea 16378 An 'indexed' file marks a file which simulates the mental file of some other person [Recanati]