Representation and Abstraction

Abstract

In this paper we propose a mathematical model for cognitive phenomena such as abstraction, generalization and extension. The main concept is the coordination of the observable world with relevant features, a concept defined mathematically in the paper. These features represent necessary conditions for performing a task. There are different strategies to choose a coordination, and some of them can be associated with the System 1 and System 2 ways of thinking. System 2 uses multiple, context dependent relevant features for coordination, which makes it possible to speak about abstraction and the generalization of concepts. We also discuss the way extension works in these systems.