Transition from Classical Cognition to 4E Cognition: A Study of Theoretical Developments in the Third Revolution of Cognitive Sciences
Tayyebeh Gholami, Hassan Hosseini-sarvari
Journal of Philosophical Investigations November 30, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.22034/jpiut.2025.69426.4239 via DOAJ
Summary
Cognitive science has undergone three major revolutions since the mid-20th century, shifting from classical cognitivism to 4E approaches. Classical cognitivism, which relies on computational representation and symbolic processing, struggles to explain interactions between mind, body, and environment. The 4E approach—embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended—treats cognition as dynamic, situated, and environmentally interactive, emphasizing the role of the body, tools, and context. Integrating classical views with the 4E perspective could guide future research toward a more comprehensive, realistic, and interdisciplinary framework, though methodological and operational challenges remain.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Integrating classical cognitivism with the 4E perspective can guide future research toward a more comprehensive, realistic, and interdisciplinary framework for understanding cognition. |
Abstract
The present study examines the theoretical developments in contemporary cognitive science, a field that has undergone three major revolutions since the mid-20th century. The main research question is how the transition from classical cognitivism to the novel 4E approaches has reshaped our understanding of the mind and cognition. Using an analytical-descriptive method based on a review of theoretical sources, the study traces the evolution from classical cognitivism to the 4E perspective. The findings indicate that classical cognitivism, with its reliance on computational representation and symbolic processing, faces limitations in explaining the interactions between mind, body, and environment. In contrast, the 4E approach—comprising embodied, embedded, enacted, and extended components—views cognition as a dynamic, situated, and environmentally interactive process, highlighting the role of the body, tools, and environmental context in organizing cognitive processes. Finally, the results suggest that integrating classical views with the 4E perspective can guide future research toward a more comprehensive, realistic, and interdisciplinary framework, although methodological and operational challenges remain.