THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONNECTIONIST MODELS AND A DYNAMIC DATA-ORIENTED THEORY OF CONCEPT-FORMATION

In this paper I shall compare two models of concept formation, both in spired by basic convictions of philosophical empiricism. The first, th e connectionist model, will be exemplified by Kohonen maps, and the se cond will be my own dynamic theory of concept formation. Both can be u nderstood in probabilistic terms, both use a notion of convergence or stabilization in modelling how concepts are built up. Both admit desta bilization of concepts and conceptual change. Both do not use a notion of representation in some pre-given language, such as a language of t hought or some logical language. Representation in a formal language o nly plays a role on the meta-level, namely within the theory about con cept formation.