More than 20 years ago, two philosophers, Andy Clark and David Chalmers, wrote a journal article that opened with a question: “Where does the mind stop and the rest of the world begin?” Now, that question would seem to have an obvious answer, right? The mind stops at the head. It’s contained within the skull. But Clark and Chalmers maintained that

... See more

Extended Mind

The Extended Mind is a theory in cognitive science that argues our thinking isn’t limited to the brain alone—it extends into our bodies, our tools, and our environments.

When we jot notes on paper, gesture with our hands, or use a calculator, those tools and actions don’t just support thinking—they are part of the thinking process. The... See more

As Donald Knuth put it: “Ai has by now succeeded in doing essentially everything that requires ‘thinking’ but has failed to do most of what people and animals do without thinking …”

What do we have left that is ours and ours alone? Sensorimotor skills that are all but automatic, yes. Consciousness, yes. Emotions. Instinct. Appetites, impulses and... See more