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6821The Cognitive Ecology of the InternetIn Stephen Cowley & Frederic VallĂ©e-Tourangeau (eds.), Cognition Beyond the Brain: Computation, Interactivity and Human Artifice (2nd ed.), Springer. pp. 251-282. 2017.In this chapter, we analyze the relationships between the Internet and its users in terms of situated cognition theory. We first argue that the Internet is a new kind of cognitive ecology, providing almost constant access to a vast amount of digital information that is increasingly more integrated into our cognitive routines. We then briefly introduce situated cognition theory and its species of embedded, embodied, extended, distributed and collective cognition. Having thus set the stage, we beg…Read more
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1614A taxonomy of cognitive artifacts: Function, information, and categoriesReview of Philosophy and Psychology 4 (3): 465-481. 2013.The goal of this paper is to develop a systematic taxonomy of cognitive artifacts, i.e., human-made, physical objects that functionally contribute to performing a cognitive task. First, I identify the target domain by conceptualizing the category of cognitive artifacts as a functional kind: a kind of artifact that is defined purely by its function. Next, on the basis of their informational properties, I develop a set of related subcategories in which cognitive artifacts with similar properties c…Read more
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1254Distributed cognition and distributed morality: Agency, artifacts and systemsScience and Engineering Ethics 23 (2): 431-448. 2017.There are various philosophical approaches and theories describing the intimate relation people have to artifacts. In this paper, I explore the relation between two such theories, namely distributed cognition and distributed morality theory. I point out a number of similarities and differences in these views regarding the ontological status they attribute to artifacts and the larger systems they are part of. Having evaluated and compared these views, I continue by focussing on the way cognitive …Read more
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858Mind and artifact: A multidimensional matrix for exploring cognition-artifact relationsIn R. Heersmink (ed.), Proceedings of AISB/IACAP World Congres 2012, . 2012.What are the possible varieties of cognition-artifact relations, and which dimensions are relevant for exploring these varieties? This question is answered in two steps. First, three levels of functional and informational integration between human agent and cognitive artifact are distinguished. These levels are based on the degree of interactivity and direction of information flow, and range from monocausal and bicausal relations to continuous reciprocal causation. In these levels there is a hie…Read more
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938The cognitive integration of scientific instruments: Information, situated cognition, and scientific practicePhenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 15 (4): 1-21. 2016.Researchers in the biological and biomedical sciences, particularly those working in laboratories, use a variety of artifacts to help them perform their cognitive tasks. This paper analyses the relationship between researchers and cognitive artifacts in terms of integration. It first distinguishes different categories of cognitive artifacts used in biological practice on the basis of their informational properties. This results in a novel classification of scientific instruments, conducive to an…Read more
Macquarie University
PhD, 2014
Tilburg, Netherlands
Areas of Specialization
Philosophy of Cognitive Science |
Philosophy of Technology |
Technology Ethics |
Extended Selves |
Neuroethics |
PhilPapers Editorships
Extended Selves |