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A Masterclass on Enactivism and Cognition (w/ Shaun Gallagher)

Aug 21, 2025

Guest

Shaun Gallagher

In this conversation with Shaun Gallagher, a leading philosopher of embodied cognition, listeners dive into the world of enactivism and its impact on cognitive science. Gallagher discusses how cognition emerges through interactions between organisms and their environments, challenging traditional views. He explores the transition from cognitivism to enactivism, emphasizing the implications for understanding nature and consciousness. The talk also touches on free will, individuality, and social contexts, offering fresh insights into how our experiences shape our perception of reality.

01:51:59

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insights

INSIGHT

Mind As Coupled System

Cognition arises from brain-body-environment coupling rather than just brain processes.
Changing any part (brain, body, environment) alters the whole dynamical system.

insights

INSIGHT

Enactivism As Philosophy Of Nature

Enactivism can inform empirical science while also rethinking what 'nature' means.
It proposes a naturalism where mind and nature co-constitute meaning and method.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Frog Thought Experiment In Class

Gallagher asks students to imagine a frog's perceptual world to show embodiment's effects.
The exercise highlights that different bodies create different enacted worlds, challenging naive realism.

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Exploring Multversality: Cognition and Perception Across Species

02:37 • 5min

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Exploring Inactivism: A Philosophical Approach to Cognition

07:46 • 5min

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Reimagining Cognition: From Cognitivism to Enactivism

13:08 • 29min

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Perception and Consciousness Across Species

42:37 • 33min

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Ecological Psychology Meets Enactivism

01:15:10 • 6min

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Exploring Free Will Through Enactivism

01:21:35 • 25min

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Navigating Individualism and Social Contexts

01:46:19 • 6min

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#97802

The structure of behaviour

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

#81451

Linguistic Bodies

The Continuity between Life and Language

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

The concept of mind

Gilbert Ryle

In this book, Gilbert Ryle argues that the concept of mind as a separate entity from the body is a philosophical illusion. He critiques Cartesian dualism, introducing the concept of 'the ghost in the machine' to describe the mistaken idea of a mind separate from the body. Ryle contends that mental processes are not distinct from physical actions but are instead behaviors and dispositions observable in the physical world. The book is a foundational work in the philosophy of mind, challenging traditional views on the nature of mind and behavior.

Inactivist Interventions

Shaun Gallagher

The book explores the philosophical implications of enactivism, a theory of embodied cognition. It examines how enactivism can be applied to various fields, including ethics, psychotherapy, and education. Gallagher argues for the importance of understanding the interplay between the body, the environment, and social interactions in shaping our cognitive processes. The book emphasizes the practical applications of enactivist principles, offering new perspectives on how we can intervene in and improve human experiences. It encourages readers to reconsider traditional views of the mind and embrace a more holistic, embodied understanding of cognition and action.

#25156

• Mentioned in 2 episodes

The visible and the invisible

Maurice Merleau-Ponty

This book contains the unfinished manuscript and working notes of Merleau-Ponty's last project. It is devoted to a critical examination of various philosophical methods, including those of Kant, Husserl, Bergson, and Sartre. The text introduces key concepts such as 'flesh' and 'chiasm,' which are central to Merleau-Ponty's later thought. These concepts aim to clarify the ontological implications of a phenomenology that self-critically accounts for its own limitations, integrating naturalism and transcendental thought through the concept of structure.

Embodied and Inactive Approaches to Cognition, Action and Interaction

Shaun Gallagher

The phenomenological mind

Shaun Gallagher

The Oxford Handbook of 4E Cognition

Albert Newen

Shaun Gallagher

Prof Shaun Gallagher is a philosopher working on embodied cognition, enactivism, phenomenology, and philosophy of mind. He is the Lillian and Morrie Moss Chair of Excellence in Philosophy at the University of Memphis and holds a secondary research appointment at the University of Wollongong. Prof Gallagher is the author and editor of numerous books, including Embodied and Enactive Approaches to Cognition, Oxford Handbook of 4E-Cognition, The Phenomenological Mind, and Enactivist Interventions. In this episode, we discuss the enactivist approach to cognitive science and philosophy of nature.

You can find more of Prof Gallagher's work at https://www.memphis.edu/philosophy/people/bios/shaun-gallagher.php

⁠⁠Watch it on YouTube here.⁠⁠

RSam Podcast #80

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