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Single Idea 19742

[filed under theme 15. Nature of Minds / A. Nature of Mind / 6. Anti-Individualism ]

Full Idea

Many identify the cognitive with the conscious, and it seems far from plausible that consciousness extends outside the head in these cases. But not every cognitive process, at least on standard usage, is a conscious process.

Gist of Idea

Consciousness may not extend beyond the head, but cognition need not be conscious

Source

A Clark / D Chalmers (The Extended Mind [1998], §3)

Book Ref

-: 'Analysis' [-], p.3


A Reaction

This gives you two sorts of externalism about mind to consider. No, three, if you say there is extended conceptual content, then extended cognition processes, then extended consciousness. Depends what you mean by 'consciousness'.


The 5 ideas from A Clark / D Chalmers

A mechanism can count as 'cognitive' whether it is in the brain or outside it [Clark/Chalmers, by Rowlands]
If something in the world could equally have been a mental process, it is part of our cognition [Clark/Chalmers]
Consciousness may not extend beyond the head, but cognition need not be conscious [Clark/Chalmers]
A notebook counts as memory, if is available to consciousness and guides our actions [Clark/Chalmers]
If a person relies on their notes, those notes are parted of the extended system which is the person [Clark/Chalmers]