Bootstrapping the mind: Analogical processes and symbol systems

Dedre Gentner

doi:10.1111/j.1551-6709.2010.01114.x

Bootstrapping the mind: Analogical processes and symbol systems

Dedre Gentner^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

363 Scopus citations

Abstract

Human cognition is striking in its brilliance and its adaptability. How do we get that way? How do we move from the nearly helpless state of infants to the cognitive proficiency that characterizes adults? In this paper I argue, first, that analogical ability is the key factor in our prodigious capacity, and, second, that possession of a symbol system is crucial to the full expression of analogical ability.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	752-775
Number of pages	24
Journal	Cognitive Science
Volume	34
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1551-6709.2010.01114.x
State	Published - Jul 2010

Keywords

Analogical learning
Bootstrapping
Cognitive development
Language and cognition
Structure-mapping

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Neuroscience
Artificial Intelligence

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Cite this

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Bootstrapping the mind: Analogical processes and symbol systems

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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