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Evolutionary convergence and biologically embodied cognition.
1Department of Theoretical Philosophy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Interface Focus
|May 9, 2017
Summary
This study redefines cognition beyond the human mind, anchoring it in biological intelligence. This expanded view facilitates empirical research into the evolutionary convergence of cognitive abilities across diverse species.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Philosophy of Biology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Cognition is often equated with the human mind, hindering empirical study and cross-species comparisons.
- Recent advancements propose an embodied cognition framework, separating cognition from a purely mental context.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a biologically embodied interpretation of cognition.
- To expand the domain for studying the evolutionary convergence of cognition.
- To explore implications for animal cognition research.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of embodied cognition and philosophy of biology.
- Analysis of case studies in bacteria, plants, and fungi.
- Examination of early nervous system evolution.
Main Results:
- A biologically embodied conception of cognition, marked by a basic cognitive toolkit, is proposed.
- Examples from microorganisms, plants, and fungi demonstrate this broad interpretation.
- Biologically embodied cognition opens new research avenues in animal cognition.
Conclusions:
- The embodied cognition framework provides a robust foundation for studying cognitive evolution.
- This approach significantly broadens the scope for investigating evolutionary convergence in cognition.
- New fundamental questions arise for understanding animal cognition and its evolutionary trajectory.
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