After an unusually warm summer full of more work than play, I have finally settled on my thesis topic (cue trumpets). This thesis involves a life long interest of mine – metacognition.
My thesis will involve modelling metacognition within the cognitive architecture ACT-R (as developed by Robert L. West). The thesis will discuss the philosophical properties of metacognition using the cognitive architecture. This will make for a broad and yet strong foundation for the topic, well affirmed from my discussions with Dr. West.
The applications of a metacognitive model holds many exciting possibilities, both for human and artificial agents. While this topic extends far beyond my humble thesis, I intend to help lay some of the necessary philosophical groundwork. After all, a blueprint is needed before building in stone – or silicon, anyway.
-Brendan C-S