SeminarPast EventCognition

The Limits of Causal Reasoning in Human and Machine Learning

Schedule
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
15:00 UTC
Steven Sloman

Prof

Brown University

Host: Learning and Reasoning

Event Information

Host

Learning and Reasoning

Duration

90 minutes

Abstract

A key purpose of causal reasoning by individuals and by collectives is to enhance action, to give humans yet more control over their environment. As a result, causal reasoning serves as the infrastructure of both thought and discourse. Humans represent causal systems accurately in some ways, but also show some systematic biases (we tend to neglect causal pathways other than the one we are thinking about). Even when accurate, people’s understanding of causal systems tends to be superficial; we depend on our communities for most of our causal knowledge and reasoning. Nevertheless, we are better causal reasoners than machines. Modern machine learners do not come close to matching human abilities.

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