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Folk Psychology vs. Cognitive Science in a Tech-Driven World
Professor Paolo Legrenzi discusses the limitations of folk psychology in navigating the complexities of a technologically advanced world, contrasting it with cognitive science and exploring human apprehension of artificial intelligence.
Italian
Italy
TechnologyHealthScienceArtificial IntelligencePsychologyFearUnderstanding
Il MulinoCa' Foscari University Of Venice
Paolo LegrenziDi Piero Di Domenico
- Why are intelligent machines increasingly feared?
- Intelligent machines provoke fear because they showcase abilities we ourselves have created but don't fully understand. Our own brains, while far more complex, do not inspire this same apprehension despite our lack of complete comprehension of their inner workings. This fear stems from the unknown.
- How do folk psychology and cognitive science coexist?
- Folk psychology and cognitive science coexist in a mutually dependent relationship. While folk psychology forms the vast majority of the psychology market (95% according to Legrenzi's observations), cognitive science provides a more rigorous and scientific understanding of the human mind that supplements everyday understanding.
- What is "folk psychology" as defined by Professor Legrenzi?
- In Western culture, "folk psychology" refers to the common-sense understanding of human behavior accumulated since ancient Greece. This includes knowledge gleaned from artistic expression and everyday experiences, functioning effectively for centuries even in clinical psychology.
- Why is the human brain still a mystery despite being a product of evolution?
- The human brain, despite being the product of evolution, is still largely mysterious. The complexity of its operations surpasses our current scientific ability to fully dissect and understand its mechanisms, much like the mystery surrounding natural phenomena such as lightning and earthquakes in the past.
- What are the reasons for the insufficiency of folk psychology in the modern world?
- The development of technology, particularly machines that create environments for which humans are not naturally adapted, has created "new worlds" for which our folk psychology is insufficient. This mismatch between our innate understanding and the complexities of our technologically advanced world is a key reason for its inadequacy.