Is that what Bayesians believe? Reply to Griffiths, Chater, Norris, and Pouget (2012)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID10716869
AutoresJean S Bowers (0000-0001-9558-5010, University of Bristol), Jeffrey S Bowers, Christopher J Davis (0000-0001-5814-5104), Colin J Davis
Año2012
Volumen138
Número3
Páginas423-426
Fecha de publicación2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPsychological Bulletin (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0033-2909 • E-ISSN: 1939-1455
EditorialAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037/a0027750
PMID22545688
OpenAlexW2171943502
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas6
Referencias citadas7

Griffiths, Chater, Norris, and Pouget (2012) argue that we have misunderstood the Bayesian approach. In their view, it is rarely the case that researchers are making claims that performance in a given task is near optimal, and few, if any, researchers adopt the theoretical Bayesian perspective according to which the mind or brain is actually performing (or approximating) Bayesian computations. Rather, researchers are said to adopt something more akin to what we called the methodological Bayesian approach, according to which Bayesian models are statistical tools that allow researchers to provide teleological explanations of behavior. In our reply we argue that many Bayesian researchers often appear to be make claims regarding optimality, and often appear to be making claims regarding how the mind computes at algorithmic and implementational levels of descriptions. We agree that some Bayesian theorists adopt the methodological approach, but we question the value of this approach. If Bayesian theories in psychology and neuroscience are only designed to provide insights into teleological questions, we expect that many readers have misunderstood, and hence there is a pressing need to clarify what Bayesian theories of cognition are all about

Bayesian econometrics · Bayesian inference · Bayesian probability · Bayesian statistics · Cognitive psychology · Cognitive science · Epistemology · Perspective (graphical) · Teleology · Artificial Intelligence · Child and Animal Learning Development · Computer Science · Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies · Neural dynamics and brain function · Philosophy · Psychology