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The cognitive science of technology.
1Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|August 7, 2021
Summary
This study proposes a cognitive science of technology, defining it by material production, social collaboration, and cultural reproduction. It introduces a perceptual-motor hypothesis to explain the evolution and development of technological cognition.
Area of Science:
- Interdisciplinary cognitive science
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Anthropology
Background:
- Technology is integral to human life but lacks a unified definition and study framework.
- Existing research spans multiple disciplines, hindering a cohesive understanding.
- A comprehensive approach is needed to define and investigate technology's cognitive underpinnings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose an interdisciplinary cognitive science of technology.
- To establish an evolutionarily motivated definition of technology.
- To develop a theoretical framework for studying technological cognition.
Main Methods:
- Synthesizing advances across anthropology, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience.
- Adopting a comparative approach to identify recurring processes in technological cognition.
- Proposing a synthetic perceptual-motor hypothesis (PMH).
Main Results:
- A definition of technology emphasizing material production, social collaboration, and cultural reproduction.
- Identification of key features for a unified theoretical approach.
- Advancement of the perceptual-motor hypothesis as a framework for investigation.
Conclusions:
- An interdisciplinary cognitive science of technology is feasible and necessary.
- The proposed definition and hypothesis provide a foundation for future research.
- Understanding the evolutionary-developmental-cultural construction of technological cognition is crucial.
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