Embodied Cognitive Science
A field of study that examines cognition through the lens of the body’s interaction with the environment, challenging the traditional view of the mind as a mere information processor. It draws on the philosophical works of Merleau-Ponty and Heidegger and has evolved through computational models developed by cognitive scientists like Rodney Brooks and Andy Clark. This approach has given rise to embodied artificial intelligence (AI), which posits that AI should not only process information but also physically interact with the world.
Areas of application
- 1. Artificial intelligence
- 2. Cognitive science
- 3. Neuroscience
- 4. Robotics
- 5. Human-computer interaction
Example
For instance, a study on the cognition of grasping and manipulating objects would involve observing how people actually use their hands and bodies to interact with objects in the real world, rather than simply studying how the brain processes visual or tactile information in a lab setting. This approach can reveal insights into how our embodied experiences shape our cognitive abilities and how AI systems can be designed to better integrate with the physical world.