Mind Concepts: Key Ideas and Connections in Mind, Cognition & AI
Touraj Banirostam
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) October 15, 2026 preprint DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23400931 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key points | Proposes a conceptual mapping framework that organizes 60 anchor concepts in philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and AI into 14 thematic clusters. The authors state the aim is conceptual clarification and comparison rather than a unified theory of mind or consciousness, and they examine the challenges of applying concepts developed to explain human mental life to contemporary AI systems. |
Abstract
This preprint introduces Mind Concepts, a conceptual mapping project that examines key ideas in philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and artificial intelligence. Its central aim is to clarify how closely related concepts differ, how they connect, and why these distinctions matter for understanding both human cognition and artificial systems. Using an analytical conceptual mapping approach, the paper organizes 60 anchor concepts into 14 thematic clusters. These cover mind and cognition; cognitive processes; belief, desire, and reasoning; knowledge, learning, and understanding; representation, meaning, and intentionality; agency and goals; subjectivity and experience; consciousness and awareness; mind–body theories; structure and function; embodied and situated cognition; computation and symbolic processing; other minds; and artificial mind and consciousness. Rather than proposing a unified theory of mind or consciousness, the paper provides a structured framework for conceptual clarification and comparison. It highlights important distinctions, identifies connections across theoretical traditions, and examines the challenges of applying concepts developed to explain human mental life to contemporary AI systems. The preprint is intended for researchers, students, and educated readers interested in mind, cognition, consciousness, and AI. It also provides a foundation for further educational materials and conceptual analyses developed within the Mind Concepts project.