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Excited to share new preprint (w/ @olivia)
Guest, O., Blokpoel, M., & van Rooij, I. (2026). What the Func? Multiple Realizability Need not be Vague. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19388964
This is a brief commentary on Multiple Realizability (MR).
We propose formalisations to assist theoreticians in thinking through how MR applies, at what levels, & how it can guide our modeling.
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What the Func? Multiple Realizability Need not be Vague
Abstract: Multiple realizability (MR) is not necessarily unclear nor does it purely operate at the computational level. To understand potential relationships between MR and other constraints, such as metabolic, we formalise possible meanings of function in cognitive science. We build on these to formalise MR, thus resolving its apparent vagaries. Importantly, MR formalisms meaningfully guide and constrain theory building.