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Material culture both reflects and causes human cognitive evolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 January 2025

Laura Desirèe Di Paolo ,
Ben White ,
Avel Guénin–Carlut ,
Axel Constant  and
Andy Clark Open the ORCID record for Andy Clark [Opens in a new window]
Laura Desirèe Di Paolo
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering and Informatics, The University of Sussex, Brighton, UK L.Di-Paolo@sussex.ac.uk a.guenin-carlut@sussex.ac.uk A.Constant@sussex.ac.uk Andy.Clark@sussex.ac.uk Children & Technology Lab, School of Psychology, The University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
Ben White
Affiliation:
Department of Philosophy, The University of Sussex, Sussex, UK B.White@sussex.ac.uk
Avel Guénin–Carlut
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering and Informatics, The University of Sussex, Brighton, UK L.Di-Paolo@sussex.ac.uk a.guenin-carlut@sussex.ac.uk A.Constant@sussex.ac.uk Andy.Clark@sussex.ac.uk
Axel Constant
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering and Informatics, The University of Sussex, Brighton, UK L.Di-Paolo@sussex.ac.uk a.guenin-carlut@sussex.ac.uk A.Constant@sussex.ac.uk Andy.Clark@sussex.ac.uk
Andy Clark*
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering and Informatics, The University of Sussex, Brighton, UK L.Di-Paolo@sussex.ac.uk a.guenin-carlut@sussex.ac.uk A.Constant@sussex.ac.uk Andy.Clark@sussex.ac.uk Department of Philosophy, The University of Sussex, Sussex, UK B.White@sussex.ac.uk Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Our commentary suggests that different materialities (fragile, enduring, and mixed) may influence cognitive evolution. Building on Stibbard-Hawkes, we propose that predictive brains minimise errors and seek information, actively structuring environments for epistemic benefits. This perspective complements Stibbard-Hawkes' view.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e7
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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