<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The behavioural evidence of sensorimotor activity during conceptual processing, along with that from neurological research, ignited the debate around the extent to which concept representations are embodied or amodal. Such evidence continues to fuel the debate but it is open to interpretation as being consistent with a variety of the theoretical positions and so it is possible that further, similar evidence may not lead to its resolution. In this paper we propose that independent value accrues from following this line of research through the enhanced understanding of the factors that influence agents’ conceptual processing of action and how this interacts with the agent’s goals in real environments. This approach is in line with broad principles of embodied cognition and is worthy of pursuit regardless of what the results may (or may not) tell us about conceptual representation.</p></abstract>

The behavioural evidence of sensorimotor activity during conceptual processing, along with that from neurological research, ignited the debate around the extent to which concept representations are embodied or amodal. Such evidence continues to fuel the debate but it is open to interpretation as being consistent with a variety of the theoretical positions and so it is possible that further, similar evidence may not lead to its resolution. In this paper we propose that independent value accrues from following this line of research through the enhanced understanding of the factors that influence agents’ conceptual processing of action and how this interacts with the agent’s goals in real environments. This approach is in line with broad principles of embodied cognition and is worthy of pursuit regardless of what the results may (or may not) tell us about conceptual representation.

Concepts and action: where does the embodiment debate leave us?

Psychology of Language and Communication

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

{"article-title":"Concepts and action: where does the embodiment debate leave us?"}

The behavioural evidence of sensorimotor activity during conceptual processing, along with that from neurological research, ignited the debate around the...

Concepts and action: where does the embodiment debate leave us?

Publié en ligne: 15 août 2018

Pages: 260 - 280

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/plc-2018-0011

Mots clés
embodied concepts, categorisation, language comprehension, action, goals

© 2018 Nicholas J. Shipp, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Concepts and action: where does the embodiment debate leave us?

Publié en ligne: 15 août 2018

Pages: 260 - 280

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/plc-2018-0011

Mots clésembodied concepts, categorisation, language comprehension, action, goals

© 2018 Nicholas J. Shipp, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Mots clés
embodied concepts, categorisation, language comprehension, action, goals