What is the problem of mental representation?

Philosophy Of Mind Questions



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What is the problem of mental representation?

The problem of mental representation refers to the challenge of understanding how mental states, such as thoughts, beliefs, and desires, can represent or stand for things in the external world. It raises questions about how our minds are able to have meaningful and accurate representations of objects, events, and concepts that exist beyond our immediate perception. This problem is particularly significant because mental representations play a crucial role in our cognitive processes, including perception, memory, language, and reasoning. Philosophers and cognitive scientists have proposed various theories and approaches to address this problem, including the use of symbols, concepts, and neural networks.