Where Representations Begin: From Basic to Decoupled Representations
Where Representations Begin: From Basic to Decoupled Representations

Summary/Abstract: This paper is concerned with the question of where representations begin, i.e., tries to answer the question of which are the simplest organisms that possess representations. This question is addressed to two types of representations: basic representations, which coordinate sensory input with motor output, and decoupled representations, which collect environmental information without being directly tied to specific behaviors. To answer this question, I will adopt an evolutionary approach by which each kind of representation will be mapped onto different stages of the evolution of the nervous system. More precisely, I will argue that basic representations emerged when a simple neural system appeared, while decoupled representations will be linked to the formation of a central nervous system that enables off-line simulation abilities. Such an evolutionary framework will provide empirical reasons to establish which are the minimal conditions that an organism must fulfill in order to qualify as representational, with respect to both basic and decoupled representations. In other words, I will argue that the biological grounding of both types of representations serves as the demarcation element that helps answer the question of where basic and decoupled representations begin.

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