The Homunculus fallacy –The homunculus argument is a fallacy arising most commonly in the theory of vision where a "middle-man" is used for explanation, this sometimes leads to regressive middle-man. Explanations without actually explaining the real nature of a function or a process. Instead, it explains the concept in terms of the concept itself, without first defining or explaining the original concept. One may explain (human) vision by noting that light from the outside world forms an image on the retinas in the eyes and something (or someone) in the brain looks at these images as if they are images on a movie screen (this theory of vision is sometimes termed the theory of the Cartesian Theater: it is most associated, nowadays, with the psychologist David Marr, see also: solipsism). The question arises as to the nature of this internal viewer. The assumption here is that there is a 'little man' or 'homunculus' inside the brain 'looking at' the movie.
My Take – This is another of those logical fallacies that I find incomprehensible and largely meaningless to life. Although I do see the value in defining these things in attempting to understand the directions advanced computer science should go with the goal of attaining AI. Another scary thought!
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