Robert Cummins

Senior Divisional Vice President , WHSmith North America
Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area,United States
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Who Is Robert Cummins?

Total Experience25 years
CompanyWHSmith North America
CountryUnited States

Robert Cummins is a distinguished American philosopher, particularly influential for his work in the philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and cognitive science. He is best known for his development and defense of functional analysis as an explanatory strategy in psychology and biology, differentiating it from causal explanation. Cummins argues that to explain how a system has a certain capacity, one must analyze that capacity into simpler sub-capacities performed by its component parts. His seminal works, such as 'The Nature of Psychological Explanation' (1983) and 'Meaning and Mental Representation' (1989), have profoundly shaped discussions on topics like mental content, computation, and the architecture of cognitive systems. He held a long-standing position as Professor of Philosophy at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he is now Professor Emeritus, and has also taught at other institutions like the University of California, Davis.

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How Did Robert Cummins's Career Path Shape Their Journey?

Robert Cummins's work history includes a series of influential roles in various companies. Here is a detailed list of his professional journey:

WHSmith North America - Senior Divisional Vice President (2020 to Present)
Office Depot - Senior Director of Merchandising: Printing, Furniture and Seating(2018 to 2020)
CVS Health - Director: Customer Growth Strategy - Consumer Healthcare(2017 to 2018)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - Director - Category Management & Merchandising(2012 to 2016)
Sam's Club - Senior Director - Divisional Merchandise Manager(2011 to 2012)
Sony Music Entertainment - Vice President - Sales(2009 to 2010)
Best Buy Co., Inc. - Merchant Director - Mobile Electronics(2006 to 2009)

What Are Robert Cummins's Key Achievements?

Pioneering Work on Functional Analysis

Developed and extensively articulated the concept of functional analysis as a distinct explanatory strategy in psychology and biology, most notably in his book 'The Nature of Psychological Explanation' (1983). This framework differentiates how a system performs a capacity (its functional organization) from why it has that capacity (its evolutionary or developmental history).

Influential Theories on Mental Representation

Authored 'Meaning and Mental Representation' (1989), offering influential accounts of how mental states acquire semantic content and represent the world, significantly impacting debates in philosophy of mind and cognitive science. His work often explores naturalistic theories of content.

Contributions to Philosophy of Science and Explanation

Made substantial contributions to understanding the nature of scientific explanation, particularly within the cognitive and biological sciences, emphasizing the role of decomposition, mechanistic explanation, and the limitations of purely nomological accounts for complex systems.

Professor Emeritus Status

Achieved the distinguished status of Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, recognizing a long and impactful career in teaching, research, and mentorship in philosophy.

What's Robert Cummins's Educational Background?

B.A., Psychology, Journalism

University of Iowa

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Company Overview

WHSmith North America
Total employees3500
HeadquartersAtlanta
Founded2018

WHSmith North America is the North American travel retail division of the British retailer WHSmith PLC. It operates a significant and growing portfolio of stores in airports and resorts across the United States and Canada. This expansion was notably accelerated by the acquisition of InMotion Entertainment in 2018, a leading airport-based digital accessories retailer, and Marshall Retail Group (MRG) in 2019, a prominent retail operator in airports and casino resorts. WHSmith North America stores offer a diverse range of products tailored for travelers, including books, magazines, newspapers, confectionery, drinks, travel accessories, souvenirs, and consumer electronics.

Company Website
WHSmith North America Stock Information
WHSmith North America, Inc. is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SMWH. The company went public on August 16, 2006

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