L’ipotesi della mente estesa: antropologia del cyborg naturale

The extended mind hypothesis portrays humans as natural-born cyborgs whose minds are enlarged through the integrated use of technological and environmental resources. This paper outlines the historical background of the model, starting with criticisms of classical cognitive science and methodological individualism. It presents and discusses the main philosophical argument for extended mind, based on the plausibility of extended dispositional belief. Problematic aspects are considered, including the problem of criteria, the causal-constitution fallacy, and the mark of the cognitive. The conclusion is that, despite several theoretical difficulties, the model's main advantage is proposing a vision of the human mind in which biology, culture, and technology are integrated.

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Abstract

The Extended Mind Hypothesis: An Anthropology of Natural Cyborgs - The “extended mind” framework depicts humans as natural-born cyborgs equipped with supersized minds, thanks to their ability to exploit technological and environmental resources in special and integrated ways. In this paper, the historical background of the extended mind model will be outlined – starting with the criticisms to classical cognitive science, particularly to methodological individualism. Then, the main philosophical argument given in favour of extended mind, based on the plausibility of the notion of extended dispositional belief, will be presented and thoroughly discussed. Many of the problematic aspects of the extended mind model – namely the problem of criteria, the causal-constitution fallacy and the mark of the cognitive – will be considered. Our conclusion is that, despite its several theoretical difficulties, the model has the main advantage of proposing a vision of the human mind in which biology, culture and technology are integrated.