Phenomenal transparency and the extended mind
Synthese August 1, 2022 P. Smart, Gloria Andrada, Robert W. Clowes
Some philosophers argue that for an external tool to count as part of the mind, it must be used so automatically that it becomes phenomenally transparent—like a blind person's cane that is felt as an extension of the body. This paper challenges that claim, arguing that phenomenal transparency is neither necessary nor sufficient for cognitive extension. Instead, transparency is a feature of situations that lead us to ascribe mental dispositions to ourselves and others. The authors clarify the role of transparency in debates about the extended mind, showing it is relevant to understanding when extended cognition occurs but not a decisive criterion.