Skip to main content

How Words Help Us Think

An Externalist Account of Representational Intentionality

How Words Help Us Think cover

How Words Help Us Think

An Externalist Account of Representational Intentionality

Out of stock
$82.80 RRP $103.50 Website price saving $20.70 (20%)
Notify me by email when this item is available

For information on how we process your data, read our Privacy Policy

Description

The mainstream assumption in cognitive science, artificial intelligence and analytic philosophy is that the defining characteristic of human cognition – intentionality, the capacity to represent – is biologically fundamental. This has driven research in cognitive science increasingly inwards and downwards to focus on activity at the neural and molecular levels, which, as Nancy Salay argues, is misguided.

Revealing the central problems with this internalist idea, Salay puts forward an externalist paradigm of intentionality supported by recent empirical work in neuroscience, computer science, philosophy, animal cognition, developmental psychology, linguistics and anthropology. Drawing all of these insights together, she provides a unified framework in which to situate externalist views of intentionality, making progress towards a viable theory of cognition. Here is a comprehensive theoretical guide and a valuable empirical resource for those who view cognition through an extended and enactive lens.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
Part I: Theory
2. Intentionality
3. Internalism
4. Externalism
5. Neanderthal Chapter
Part II: Empirical Support
6. Anthropology/Archaeology
7. Animal Cognition
8. Cognitive Psychology
9. Literacy
10. Computer Models
11. Neanderthal Chapter
12. Conclusion
13. Epilogue
References
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Feb 06 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 168
ISBN 9781350266834
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Nancy Salay

Nancy Salay is Associate Professor in the Departme…

Related Titles

Environment: Hukd Staging