The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain
A bold new book reveals how we can tap the intelligence that exists beyond our brains—in our bodies, our surroundings, and our relationships
Use your head.
That’s what we tell ourselves when facing a tricky problem or a difficult project. But a growing body of research indicates that we’ve got it exactly backwards. What we need to do, says acclaimed science writer Annie Murphy Paul, is think outside the brain. A host of “extra-neural” resources—the feelings and movements of our bodies, the physical spaces in which we learn and work, and the minds of those around us— can help us focus more intently, comprehend more deeply, and create more imaginatively.
The Extended Mind outlines the research behind this exciting new vision of human ability, exploring the findings of neuroscientists, cognitive scientists, psychologists, and examining the practices of educators, managers, and leaders who are already reaping the benefits of thinking outside the brain. She excavates the untold history of how artists, scientists, and authors—from Jackson Pollock to Jonas Salk to Robert Caro—have used mental extensions to solve problems, make discoveries, and create new works. In the tradition of Howard Gardner’s Frames of Mind or Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence, The Extended Mind offers a dramatic new view of how our minds work, full of practical advice on how we can all think better.
The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy Paul is a groundbreaking exploration of the ways in which our minds extend beyond our brains. Paul argues that our cognition is not confined to our skulls, but rather is distributed across our bodies, our environment, and our social interactions. This concept, known as the extended mind, has profound implications for our understanding of consciousness, free will, and the nature of reality itself.
Paul begins her book by examining the role of the body in cognition. She shows how our physical actions and gestures can shape our thoughts and feelings. For example, research has shown that people who are asked to hold a warm cup of coffee tend to judge others more favorably than those who hold a cold cup. This suggests that our physical environment can influence our mental processes.
Paul then goes on to explore the role of social interactions in cognition. She shows how our conversations with others can help us to solve problems and make decisions. For example, studies have shown that people who are asked to brainstorm with others come up with more creative solutions than those who brainstorm alone. This suggests that our social interactions can expand the limits of our own minds.
Finally, Paul discusses the implications of the extended mind for our understanding of consciousness, free will, and the nature of reality. She argues that the extended mind challenges the traditional view of consciousness as a private, internal phenomenon. Instead, she suggests that consciousness is a social and embodied phenomenon that is constantly interacting with the world around us.
The Extended Mind is a thought-provoking and challenging book that has the potential to change the way we think about our own minds. Paul's work is a must-read for anyone who is interested in the nature of consciousness, free will, or the relationship between mind and body.
Rating:
