About the book
An account of the different ways in which things have become cognitive extensions of the human body, from prehistory to the present.
An increasingly influential school of thought in cognitive science views the mind as embodied, extended, and distributed rather than brain-bound or “all in the head.” This shift in perspective raises important questions about the relationship between cognition and material culture, posing major challenges for philosophy, cognitive science, archaeology, and anthropology. In How Things Shape the Mind, Lambros Malafouris proposes a cross-disciplinary analytical framework for investigating the ways in which things have become cognitive extensions of the human body. Using a variety of examples and case studies, he considers how those ways might have changed from earliest prehistory to the present. Malafouris's Material Engagement Theory definitively adds materiality—the world of things, artifacts, and material signs—into the cognitive equation. His account not only questions conventional intuitions about the boundaries and location of the human mind but also suggests that we rethink classical archaeological assumptions about human cognitive evolution.
Editions of How Things Shape the Mind
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780262019194
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780262528924
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262315654
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262315661
- EBook
- ISBN 9780262315678
Read an Excerpt
An account of the different ways in which things have become cognitive extensions of the human body, from prehistory to the present.
An increasingly influential school of thought in cognitive science views the mind as embodied, extended, and distributed rather than brain-bound or “all in the head.” This shift in perspective raises important questions about the relationship between cognition and material culture, posing major challenges for philosophy, cognitive science, archaeology, and anthropology. In How Things Shape the Mind, Lambros Malafouris proposes a cross-disciplinary analytical framework for investigating the ways in which things have become cognitive extensions of the human body. Using a variety of examples and case studies, he considers how those ways might have changed from earliest prehistory to the present. Malafouris's Material Engagement Theory definitively adds materiality—the world of things, artifacts, and material signs—into the cognitive equation. His account not only questions conventional intuitions about the boundaries and location of the human mind but also suggests that we rethink classical archaeological assumptions about human cognitive evolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is How Things Shape the Mind about?
An account of the different ways in which things have become cognitive extensions of the human body, from prehistory to the present.
An increasingly influential school of thought in cognitive science views the mind as embodied, extended, and distributed rather than brain-bound or “all in the head.” This shift in perspective raises important questions about the relationship between cognition and material culture, posing major challenges for philosophy, cognitive science, archaeology, and anthropology. In How Things Shape the Mind, Lambros Malafouris proposes a cross-disciplinary analytical framework for investigating the ways in which things have become cognitive extensions of the human body. Using a variety of examples and case studies, he considers how those ways might have changed from earliest prehistory to the present. Malafouris's Material Engagement Theory definitively adds materiality—the world of things, artifacts, and material signs—into the cognitive equation. His account not only questions conventional intuitions about the boundaries and location of the human mind but also suggests that we rethink classical archaeological assumptions about human cognitive evolution.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in How Things Shape the Mind?
Society and Social Sciences > Psychology > Cognition and cognitive psychology
Where can I read a sample of How Things Shape the Mind?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780262019194
Who is/are the Author/s of the book How Things Shape the Mind?
Lambros Malafouris
Who is the Publisher of the book How Things Shape the Mind?
MIT Press
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
How Things Shape the Mind is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780262019194) and paperback(ISBN 9780262528924) and ebook(ISBN 9780262315654) and ebook(ISBN 9780262315661) and ebook(ISBN 9780262315678)
Where can I buy How Things Shape the Mind online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy How Things Shape the Mind from below
Where can I buy How Things Shape the Mind?