Extended Mind Thesis

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An Extended Mind Thesis is a philosophical theory that argues the mind is not confined to the brain or body but can extend into the external environment through the use of tools and other cognitive resources.

  • Context:
    • It can (typically) challenge traditional views of cognition that locate the mind strictly within the biological boundaries of the individual.
    • It can (often) include external devices, such as notebooks, smartphones, or other tools, as part of the cognitive process.
    • It can range from being a mild claim that external tools are important aids to cognition to a strong claim that these tools are actually part of the mind.
    • It can support the idea that cognitive processes are distributed across internal and external resources.
    • It can be used to explain phenomena such as distributed cognition and embodied cognition, where cognitive processes rely on both mental and environmental components.
    • ...
  • Example(s):
    • the use of a notebook by an individual with memory impairments to offload cognitive tasks, thereby extending their memory capacity.
    • the reliance on smartphones for navigating through unfamiliar environments, suggesting that the device acts as an extension of the individual’s spatial awareness.
    • ...
  • Counter-Example(s):
    • Internalist theories of mind, which argue that cognitive processes are confined strictly within the individual's mind.
    • Cartesian dualism, which holds that the mind and body are separate and distinct, with no external elements involved in cognitive processes.
  • See: Philosophy of Self, Philosophy of Mind, Mind, Brain, Human Body, Surroundings, Cognitive Process, Diary, Personal Computer, Information, Andy Clark, David Chalmers


References

2024


1998