Frederick Adams & Kenneth Aizawa 
The Bounds of Cognition 

An alarming number of philosophers and cognitive scientists have
argued that mind extends beyond the brain and body. This book
evaluates these arguments and suggests that, typically, it does
not.

* A timely and relevant study that exposes the need to develop a
more sophisticated theory of cognition, while pointing to a bold
new direction in exploring the nature of cognition

* Articulates and defends the ‘mark of the
cognitive’, a common sense theory used to distinguish between
cognitive and non-cognitive processes

* Challenges the current popularity of extended cognition theory
through critical analysis and by pointing out fallacies and
shortcoming in the literature

* Stimulates discussions that will advance debate about the
nature of cognition in the cognitive sciences

Tabela de Conteúdo

Preface vii

Acknowledgments xii

1 Introduction 1

2 Refining the Issues 16

2.1 What are the Boundaries? 16

2.2 What is Cognition? 22

2.3 The Possibility of Extended Cognition 25

2.4 Conclusion 29

3 Original Content 31

3.1 Part of the Mark of the Cognitive: Non-Derived Content 32

3.2 The Basics on Derived and Underived Content 35

3.3 Dennett’s Critique of Original Content 39

3.4 Clark’s Critique of Original Content 46

3.5 Anti-Representationalism in Dynamical Systems and Mobile Robotics 51

3.6 Conclusion 55

4 Cognitive Processes 57

4.1 Individuating Process Types in Science 58

4.2 Individuating Processes in Cognitive Psychology 60

4.3 A Broader Category of Cognition 70

4.4 Conclusion 74

5 The Mark of the Cognitive, Extended Cognition Style 76

5.1 Cognition as Information Processing, as Computation, and as Abiding in the Meaningful 76

5.2 Operationalism 79

5.3 Is This Merely a Terminological Issue? 83

5.4 Conclusion 85

6 The Coupling-Constitution Fallacy 88

6.1 Some Examples of the Coupling-Constitution Fallacy 93

6.2 Replies to the Coupling-Constitution Fallacy 99

6.3 Conclusion 105

7 Extended Cognitive Systems and Extended Cognitive Processes 106

7.1 Dynamical Systems Theory and Coupling 107

7.2 Haugeland’s Theory of Systems and the Coupling of Components 112

7.3 Clark’s Theories of Systems and Coupling 119

7.4 Conclusion 130

8 Cognitive Equivalence, Complementarity, and Evolution 133

8.1 Cognitive Equivalence 133

8.2 The Complementarity Argument 143

8.3 Evolutionary Arguments 147

8.4 Conclusion: The Importance of the Mark of the Cognitive 150

9 Inference to the Best Explanation and Extended Cognition 152

9.1 What is the Theory of Enactive Perception? 153

9.2 Noë’s Evidence for Enactive Perception 156

9.3 The Case against Enactive Perception: Paralysis 166

9.4 Conclusion 172

10 Future Directions 174

Bibliography 180

Index 187

Sobre o autor

FREDERICK ADAMS is Professor of Cognitive Science & Philosophy and Chair of Linguistics and Cognitive Science at the University of Delaware. He is also director of the Delaware Program in Cognitive Science. He publishes in epistemology, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of science.

KENNETH AIZAWA is Charles T. Beaird Professor of Philosophy in the Department of Philosophy at Centenary College of Louisiana and is the author of The Systematicity Arguments (2003).