Extended Cognition and the Internet: A Review of Current Issues and Controversies

Area of Science:

• Cognitive Science
• Philosophy of Mind
• Internet Studies

Background:

• The Internet is a significant area of study for extended cognition theories.
• Active externalist theories applied to the Internet introduce the concept of Internet-extended cognition.
• This concept posits the Internet as a potential component of the material basis for human mental processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review issues and controversies surrounding Internet-extended cognition.
• To examine the Internet's capacity to support real-world cognitive extension.
• To explore the cognitive and epistemic impacts of the Internet and introduce novel philosophical concepts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and philosophical analysis.
• Examination of active externalist theorizing in the context of the Internet.
• Identification and discussion of emerging issues in Internet-extended cognition.

Main Results:

• The Internet can function as part of an integrated cognitive system, supporting extended cognition.
• Key issues include the Internet's technological capacity for cognitive extension and its cognitive/epistemic impacts.
• Novel concepts such as 'network-extended cognitive bloat', 'conjoined minds', and 'human-extended machine cognition' are introduced.

Conclusions:

• Internet-extended cognition is crucial for contemporary debates on the extended mind.
• The Internet offers unique insights into cognitive extension beyond simpler technological examples.
• Further philosophical attention is needed for emerging concepts in human-machine cognitive integration.