The Extended Mind
<p>May 27, 2011 09:08 AM
 
A book by Andy Clark and David Chalmers.  active externalism
 
This view proposes that some objects in the external environment are utilized by the <a title="Mind" href="/wiki/Mind">mind</a> in such a way that the objects can be seen as extensions of the mind itself.
 
semantic or "content" externalism  in which objects within the environment function as part of the mind.
 
Because external objects play a significant role in aiding cognitive processes, the mind and the environment act as a "coupled system". This coupled system can be seen as a complete cognitive system of its own. In this manner, the mind is extended into the external world. The main criterion that Clark and Chalmers list for classifying the use of external objects during cognitive tasks as a part of an extended cognitive system is that the external objects must function with the same purpose as the internal processes
 
The fictional characters <b>Otto and Inga are both traveling to a museum simultaneously</b>. Otto has <a class="mw-redirect" title="Alzheimer's Disease" href="/wiki/Alzheimer%27s_Disease">Alzheimer's Disease</a>, and has <b>written all of his directions down in a notebook</b> to serve the function of his memory. <b>Inga is able to recall the internal directions within her memory</b>.</p>