A framework for thinking about distributed cognition

Bibliographic Data

ID20484129
AuthorsPaul Poirier (0000-0003-4252-9677, Department of philosophy and Cognitive Sciences Institute), Pierre Poirier, Guillaume Chicoisne (Cognitive Sciences Institute, Université du Québec à Montréal)
Year2006
Volume14
Issue2
Pages215-234
Publication date2006-09-21
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenuePragmatics & Cognition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0929-0907 • E-ISSN: 1569-9943
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/pc.14.2.04poi
OpenAlexW2100684635
LanguageEN
Citations received7
References cited3

As is often the case when scientific or engineering fields emerge, new concepts are forged or old ones are adapted. When this happens, various arguments rage over what ultimately turns out to be conceptual misunderstandings. At that critical time, there is a need for an explicit reflection on the meaning of the concepts that define the field. In this position paper, we aim to provide a reasoned framework in which to think about various issues in the field of distributed cognition. We argue that both relevant concepts, distribution and cognition, must be understood as continuous. As it is used in the context of distributed cognition, the concept of distribution is essentially fuzzy, and we will link it to the notion of emergence of system-level properties. The concept of cognition must also be seen as fuzzy, but for a different reason: due to its origin as an anthropocentric concept, no one has a clear handle on its meaning in a distributed setting. As the proposed framework forms a space, we then explore its geography and (re)visit famous landmarks

Cognition · Cognitive science · Epistemology · Fuzzy cognitive map · Fuzzy logic · Fuzzy set · Socially distributed cognition · Sociology · Child and Animal Learning Development · Cognitive Science and Mapping · Computer Science · Language and cultural evolution · Mathematics · Philosophy · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence

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