Technology and the Extended Mind

Abstract

The concept of extended mind involves the idea that the use of various tools, artifacts, or aspects of the environment can facilitate, enhance, or even constitute cognition. In the original version of the extended mind hypothesis (EMH), the relevant technology is treated in parity with processes that occur in the head or brain, in conformity with the parity principle. The most contentious objection to the EMH concerns the idea that the use of an external artifact or piece of technology “constitutes” cognition, or more controversially put, constitutes the mind. A friendlier, or one might say, internal objection to EMH’s parity principle leads to a revised version of the extended mind, often referred to as a “second wave” of extended mind theory. Although, in some cases there may be an epistemic-functional similarity or parity between internal neural processes and external tools and technologies.

Publication Title

Technology Ethics: A Philosophical Introduction and Readings

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