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Single Idea 4044

[filed under theme 6. Mathematics / C. Sources of Mathematics / 4. Mathematical Empiricism / a. Mathematical empiricism ]

Full Idea

Rats can determine the number of times they have pressed a lever up to at least twenty-four presses,…and can consistently turn down the fifth tunnel on the left in a maze.

Gist of Idea

Rat behaviour reveals a considerable ability to count

Source

Alvin I. Goldman (Phil Applications of Cognitive Science [1993], p.58)

Book Ref

Goldman,Alvin I.: 'Philosophical Applications of Cognitive Science' [Westview 1993], p.58

A Reaction

This seems to encourage an empirical view of maths (pattern recognition?) rather than a Platonic one. Or numbers are innate in rat brains?

The 16 ideas from Alvin I. Goldman

4047 Gestalt psychology proposes inbuilt proximity, similarity, smoothness and closure principles [Goldman]
4048 Infant brains appear to have inbuilt ontological categories [Goldman]
4049 The way in which colour experiences are evoked is physically odd and unpredictable [Goldman]
4044 Rat behaviour reveals a considerable ability to count [Goldman]
4045 Children may have three innate principles which enable them to learn to count [Goldman]
4043 Elephants can be correctly identified from as few as three primitive shapes [Goldman]
4262 If the only aim was consistent beliefs then new evidence and experiments would be irrelevant [Goldman]
6871 We can't only believe things if we are currently conscious of their justification - there are too many [Goldman]
6872 Internalism must cover Forgotten Evidence, which is no longer retrievable from memory [Goldman]
6873 Coherent justification seems to require retrieving all our beliefs simultaneously [Goldman]
6874 Internal justification needs both mental stability and time to compute coherence [Goldman]
6875 Reliability involves truth, and truth is external [Goldman]
8831 Introspection is really retrospection; my pain is justified by a brief causal history [Goldman]
8829 Justification depends on the reliability of its cause, where reliable processes tend to produce truth [Goldman]
8830 A belief can be justified when the person has forgotten the evidence for it [Goldman]
8832 If justified beliefs are well-formed beliefs, then animals and young children have them [Goldman]