Title

Mental Institutions

Keywords

Extended mind; Hegel; Objective spirit; Parity principle; Social institutions

Abstract

We propose to extend Clark and Chalmer's concept of the extended mind to consider the possibility that social institutions (e.g., legal systems, museums) may operate in ways similar to the hand-held conveniences (notebooks, calculators) that are often used as examples of extended mind. The inspiration for this suggestion can be found in the writings of Hegel on "objective spirit" which involves the mind in a constant process of externalizing and internalizing. For Hegel, social institutions are pieces of the mind, externalized in their specific time and place. These institutions are the products of shared mental processes. We then use these institutions instrumentally to do further cognitive work, for example, to solve problems or to control behavior. © 2008 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Publication Date

3-1-2009

Publication Title

Topoi

Volume

28

Issue

1

Number of Pages

45-51

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-008-9045-0

Socpus ID

60449091475 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/60449091475

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