Research On Fodor's Module Theory And Its Epistemological Problems

The theoretical background of Fodor's module theory is the logical course in the research of human cognition in the western philosophical history. Through reviewing on the nature of human cognition, module theory is about human cognitive and psychological structure with the basis of the analogy between human brain and computer.Fodor divided psychological function into three according to the fundamental structure of computer. By this method, the function of psychology can be divided into three independent mechanism: sensor system, input system and central system. According to Fodor's definition, only input system is modular. The central system is not modular because it is not domain special or encapsulated. This point of view has evoked fireworks these years.The illogicality hidden in it is that if the center part of psychology is not modular, why the module theory is significant? There are some people who thought that the partition of input system and central system was wrong at all. The argument on the non-modularity of central system was all the more weak. There are other people who thought the predication that human cognition would not be known because of the non-modularity would definitely engendered pessimism in epistemology etc.Module theory not only contains some classical epistemological thinking like Kant and Piaget, but also assimilates adequately diversified philosophical theory nowadays like functionalism, revivificationism. It is of great significance for us to analyze ulteriorly human cognitive ability and structure.