Extended Mind Thesis

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.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_mind_thesis Retrieved:2024-8-15.
  • In philosophy of mind, the extended mind thesis says that the mind does not exclusively reside in the brain or even the body, but extends into the physical world. The thesis proposes that some objects in the external environment can be part of a cognitive process and in that way function as extensions of the mind itself. Examples of such objects are written calculations, a diary, or a PC; in general, it concerns objects that store information. The hypothesis considers the mind to encompass every level of cognition, including the physical level.

    It was proposed by Andy Clark and David Chalmers in "The Extended Mind" (1998). They describe the idea as "active externalism, based on the active role of the environment in driving cognitive processes."

    For the matter of personal identity (and the philosophy of self), the EMT has the implication that some parts of a person's identity can be determined by their environment.

1998

• (Clark & Chalmers, 1998) ⇒ Andy Clark, and David Chalmers. (1998). "The Extended Mind.” In: Analysis, 58(1).
  • NOTE: It presents the foundational argument that cognitive processes can extend beyond the individual's biological brain.

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