<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The question whether cognition ever extends beyond the head is widely considered to be an empirical issue. And yet, all the evidence amassed in recent years has not sufficed to settle the debate. In this paper we suggest that this is because the debate is not really an empirical one, but rather a matter of definition. Traditional cognitive science can be identified as wedded to the ideals of “smallism” and “localism”. We criticize these ideals and articulate a case in favor of extended cognition by highlighting the historical pedigree and conceptual adequacy of related empirical and theoretical work.</p></abstract>

The question whether cognition ever extends beyond the head is widely considered to be an empirical issue. And yet, all the evidence amassed in recent years has not sufficed to settle the debate. In this paper we suggest that this is because the debate is not really an empirical one, but rather a matter of definition. Traditional cognitive science can be identified as wedded to the ideals of “smallism” and “localism”. We criticize these ideals and articulate a case in favor of extended cognition by highlighting the historical pedigree and conceptual adequacy of related empirical and theoretical work.

Against Smallism And Localism

Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":"Against Smallism And Localism"}

The question whether cognition ever extends beyond the head is widely considered to be an empirical issue. And yet, all the evidence amassed in recent years...

Against Smallism And Localism

Publié en ligne: 24 juil. 2015

Pages: 9 - 23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2015-0017

Mots clés
extended cognition, reductionism, internalism, affordances, dynamical systems, tool-use, social interaction, cognitive institutions

© Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Against Smallism And Localism

Publié en ligne: 24 juil. 2015

Pages: 9 - 23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/slgr-2015-0017

Mots clésextended cognition, reductionism, internalism, affordances, dynamical systems, tool-use, social interaction, cognitive institutions

© Studies in Logic, Grammar and Rhetoric

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Mots clés
extended cognition, reductionism, internalism, affordances, dynamical systems, tool-use, social interaction, cognitive institutions