Philosophy and prehistory: new perspectives on minds, art, and culture
Corijn van Mazijk, Anton Killin, K. Overmann
Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences January 28, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s11097-025-10057-8 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Editorial introduction to a special issue Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that philosophy and evolutionary cognitive archaeology should intersect more closely, and proposes that each field can inform the other: archaeologists can reflect on their field philosophically, and philosophers can address methodological and conceptual issues in cognitive archaeology. The editors identify common themes and complementarities across the fourteen contributions, which draw on phenomenology, analytic philosophy, 4E cognition, and Material Engagement Theory. |
Abstract
This article introduces the special issue “Philosophy and Prehistory: New Perspectives on Minds, Art, and Culture.” The primary motivation for the issue was to create a space where philosophy and evolutionary cognitive archaeology could intersect. We wanted to encourage cognitive archaeologists to reflect on their field from a philosophical perspective, and philosophers to consider key methodological, theoretical, or conceptual issues in evolutionary cognitive archaeology. We thereby aimed to bridge a perceived gap between philosophical and scientific research on prehistory, and to explore how these fields might complement each other. Our contributors relied on a variety of philosophical frameworks, including phenomenology, analytic philosophy, 4E cognition, and Material Engagement Theory. In this introduction, we reflect briefly on all fourteen contributions, and identify some common themes and points of complementarity. By bringing these perspectives together, we hope to inspire further philosophical inquiry into the vast expanse of human prehistory.