An abstract machine based on classical association psychology

Abstract

The theories of classical association psychology (circa 1750-1900) attempted to explain human thought processes in terms of certain mechanistic forces operating on discrete entities called "sensations," "images," and "ideas." Although these theories have become unfashionable since the turn of the century, due primarily to their ambiguity and the difficulty of experimental verification, and whereas they may never prove adequate for human psychology, it is possible that they may, nevertheless, provide a fruitful basis for some types of artificial intelligence. One method of exploring ramifications of the classical theories is the formulation of an abstract "machine" which constitutes an interpretation of the theories and whose behavior can be examined in any desired detail. In this paper such a machine is partially constructed, and some of its behavioral features and problems are discussed.