The 4E approach to cognition claims that thinking is not confined to the brain but is also embodied, embedded, enacted, or extended through processes and structures outside the skull. Although this view is currently popular, it has undergone relatively little critical scrutiny. This article examines two recent collections of work on 4E cognition to evaluate the paradigm's strengths and weaknesses.
The 4E approach to cognition claims that thinking is not confined to the brain but is also embodied, embedded, enacted, or extended through processes and structures outside the skull. Although this view is currently popular, it has received relatively few critical assessments. This article reviews the 4E paradigm by reflecting on two recent collections, evaluating its strengths and weaknesses.