Introduction: Scaffolding Bad - Varieties of Situated Cognitive Harm

Citation

Spurrett D, Colombetti G & Sutton J (2025) Introduction: Scaffolding Bad - Varieties of Situated Cognitive Harm. Topoi, 44, pp. 345-351. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11245-025-10167-7

Abstract
First paragraph: We and the contributors to this collection share the view that bodies, artefacts, situated social practices, and other brain-external structures and processes make significant positive contributions to our cognitive and affective lives. Saying that cognition or minds are situated embraces these varied considerations. Radical versions of this line of thinking say that minds are extended, in the sense of being constituted not just by brain and bodily processes, but also by environmental resources. We don’t take sides on the question of constitution here and agree with Kim Sterelny’s point that the variety of ways in which cognition can be scaffolded is far larger than the set of cases that are plausible candidates for individual mind-extension (Sterelny 2010). Accordingly, we also adopt here the vocabulary of ‘scaffolding’ to refer broadly to ‘environmental supports’ which may or may not also be considered extensions.

Journal
Topoi: Volume 44