Georg Theiner, Res cogitans extensa. A Philosophical Defense of the Extended Mind Thesis

In this philosophical monograph, Georg Theiner defends the Extended Mind Thesis, the claim that mental processes can extend beyond the brain into the environment. Theiner argues that cognitive systems are not confined to the skull but can include external tools, artifacts, and social structures. He draws on empirical research in cognitive science and develops a theoretical framework to show how external resources can become constitutive parts of cognitive processes. The book engages with objections and alternative positions, ultimately arguing that the boundaries of the mind are not fixed by biology alone but are flexible and can include external elements.

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Abstract

Georg Theiner, Res cogitans extensa. A Philosophical Defense of the Extended Mind Thesis, Peter Lang, Fráncfort del Meno, 2011, xiv + 267 pp.