4E cognition and the dogma of harmony
Philosophical Psychology November 2, 2020 J. Aagaard 68 citations
A contemporary approach to cognitive psychology known as 4E cognition holds that the mind is not confined to the head but is dynamically intertwined with social and technological entities. This article raises a concern not about whether the mind is extended, but about how this condition is portrayed. It argues that 4E scholars often paint an overly idealized picture of human–technology relations, presuming all entities cooperate and collaborate. The article describes extended and distributed cognition, discusses leaving behind the concepts of cognition and representation, and identifies a 'dogma of harmony' in the literature. It argues for analytical room for conflictual relations, providing bad habits and deskilling as examples.