A Quantum Mechanical Approach to Cognition and Representation1

In this article, a novel approach to cognition inspired by quantum mechanical principles is proposed. It is based on an analogy between the physical objects at the quantum level and the human’s mental states. Specifically, symbols in various cognitive functions are to be treated as eigenstates with respect to a particular quantum experimental arrangement. The arrangement is associated with an operator (called a formulation) corresponding to an observable of quantum mechanics. A state of affairs is treated as a superposition of eigenstates. Based on these assumptions, the quantum mechanical formalism can be straightforwardly applied to cognitive processes. As in quantum mechanics, there is an analogous Uncertainty Principle in representation. Furthermore, it is shown that non-monotonicity and counterfactual conditionals can be accommodated in a quantum mechanical framework.