The Concept of Recursion in Cognitive Studies. Part II: From Turing to Bayes to Consciousness

Recursion—a process that calls itself—has expanded the limits of computability with each new method, from Turing oracles to probabilistic machines and Bayesian techniques. The article argues that recursion is vital to human cognition, especially for developing and interpreting complex language. Studying recursion and consciousness faces challenges: the subjective nature of consciousness and the complexity of neural networks involved. Current theories of cognitive processing and language acquisition are limited in explaining recursion and consciousness. Investigating their relationship is critical for understanding language and cognition, and a future recursion-based theory may resolve major metaphysical puzzles.

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Abstract

This article discusses the concept of recursion in mathematics, AI, cognitive studies and its relationship to consciousness. The development of the notion is followed in parallel with the history of computability theory when concepts of Turing oracle and probabilistic machines were introduced. Also, such recursive computational techniques as Bayesian Recursive Estimation and Bayesian hierarchical inference are reviewed. It is shown that, with each novation in recursive methods, the limits of computability have expanded. The author argues that recursion is a vital aspect of human cognition, particularly in the development and interpretation of complex language. The paper also addresses the challenges of studying recursion and consciousness, such as the subjective nature of consciousness and the complexity of neural networks associated with conscious thought. Additionally, the paper examines the limitations of current theories of cognitive processing and language acquisition in understanding recursion and consciousness. The article concludes that investigating the relationship between recursion and consciousness is critical for developing a deeper understanding of language and cognitive processing. The author anticipates that a future recursionbased theory will help solve principal metaphysical conundrums of the past and the present.