Why Is Conversation So Easy? Simon Garrod and Martin J. Pickering

Why is conversation so easy? Abstract Traditional accounts of language processing suggest that monologue – presenting and listening to speeches – should be more straightforward than dialogue – holding a conversation. This is clearly not the case. We argue that conversation is easy because of an interactive processing mechanism that leads to the alignment of Continue reading Why Is Conversation So Easy? Simon Garrod and Martin J. Pickering

The Extended Mind: the Power of Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy Paul (2021)

Over many years of elementary school, high school, and even college and graduate school, we’re never explicitly taught to think outside the brain; we’re not shown how to employ our bodies and spaces and relationships in the service of intelligent thought. Yet this instruction is available if we know where to look; our teachers are Continue reading The Extended Mind: the Power of Thinking Outside the Brain by Annie Murphy Paul (2021)

The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason We did not evolve to reason individually but to reason socially

Reasoning is usually treated as a tool for forming sound beliefs and decisions. Yet research on cognitive bias suggests our individual reasoning is often unreliable and shaped by hidden distortions. Social reasoning offers an alternative: we think better together, testing ideas through dialogue and shared critique rather than alone. Continue reading The Argumentative Theory of Human Reason We did not evolve to reason individually but to reason socially

The Nature of Consciousness The mystery of the mind

Conversational Chemistry The Relationship Between Consciousness and Intelligence ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Human consciousness has long puzzled philosophers and scientists. The hard problem of consciousness grapples with explaining how subjective experiences arise from physical Continue reading The Nature of Consciousness The mystery of the mind

Understanding 4E Cognition The multidimensional nature of cognition

Cognition is a complex process that involves not only our brains but also our bodies, environments, and actions. This is the idea behind 4E cognition, which encompasses the four factors that shape cognition: embodiment, embeddedness, extension, and enaction. It’s common for us to think that all our cognitive processes occur solely in our minds or brains, but this is a limited and potentially … Continue reading Understanding 4E Cognition The multidimensional nature of cognition

Interbrain Synchrony When neural activities align between people during social interactions

Mirror Neurons Mirror Neurons and Interbrain Synchrony Enhancing Conversation ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What’s the Vibe? Please be patient as this may take up to a minute to load… Close Interbrain synchrony occurs when neural activities align between people during social interactions. Understanding this phenomenon can improve communication, teamwork, and learning. Continue reading Interbrain Synchrony When neural activities align between people during social interactions

We Humans Are Complex Human socio-technical systems are complex

We humans are extraordinarily complex, shaped by billions of years of evolution. Understanding human systems is challenging because they differ from natural or technical systems. Thinkers such as Ralph Stacey and Dave Snowden have developed methods to make sense of this complexity, highlighting how human interactions shape unpredictable and adaptive social systems. Continue reading We Humans Are Complex Human socio-technical systems are complex