Extended Mind
Georg Theiner
The Wiley‐Blackwell Encyclopedia of Social Theory December 4, 2017 DOI: 10.1002/9781118430873.est0859 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that the "extended mind" thesis treats cognitive processes as incorporating environmental structures such as symbols, tools, artifacts, media, cultural practices, norms, groups, and institutions, rather than being confined to the skull or skin. The entry frames humans as creative, opportunistic experts in cognitive "self-transcendence" who distribute cognition across space, time, and people to overcome biological limits of the brain. |
Abstract
The “extended mind” (EM) thesis asserts that cognitive processes are not bound by the skull or even skin of biological individuals, but actively incorporate environmental structures such as symbols, tools, artifacts, media, cultural practices, norms, groups, or institutions. By distributing cognition across space, time, and people in canny ways, we circumvent or overcome the biological limitations of our brains. Human beings are creative, albeit opportunistic experts in cognitive “self‐transcendence.” This entry surveys discussions of EM in philosophy of mind and cognitive science which point to this overarching theme.