Abstract:

It is generally assumed that the debate between theory-theory and simulation theory is an empirical one, but this view of the structure of the debate is misleading. It is an a priori truth that theory-theory is mistaken and equally a priori that simulation in one sense (here labelled `co-cognition') is central in thinking about the thoughts of others. Given this, it is a further question how our co-cognitive powers are realized in sub-personal machinery. Here simulation in quite another sense (that involving such ideas as `pretend states' and `off-line' mental processes) may provide one possible answer.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/1468-0017.00088

Affiliations: 1: St John's College, Cambridge CB2 1TP, UK.