Ecological foundations of cognition. I: Symmetry and specificity of animal-environment systems

Authors: Turvey M.T.¹; Shaw R.E.²

Source: Journal of Consciousness Studies, Volume 6, Numbers 11-12, 1999 , pp. 95-110(16)

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Abstract:

Ontological and methodological constraints on a theory of cognition that would generalize across species are identified. Within these constraints, ecological arguments for (a) animal-environment mutuality and reciprocity and (b) the necessary specificity of structured energy distributions to environmental facts are developed as counterpoints to the classical doctrines of animal-environment dualism and intractable nonspecificity. Implications of (a) and (b) for a cognitive theory consistent with Gibson's programme of ecological psychology are identified and contrasted with contemporary cognitivism.

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Center for the Ecological Study of Perception and Action, University of Connecticut, Stoors, CT 06269-1020, USA. Email:turvey@uconnvm.uconn.edu 2: Email: REShaw@uconnvm.uconn.edu

Publication date: 1999-01-01