The Problems Of Other Minds From The Perspective Of The Extended Mind Theory

The problem of other minds is a traditional concern of Philosophy of Mind.And the discussions of the problem of other minds can be presented by a genetics approach which is based on theory theory of mind and simulation theory of mind,and a phenomenological approach which is based on the theory of empathy.In the genetics approach,the mental state of others is considered as an independent object and cannot be directly perceived.However,as the phenomenologists pointed out that the other is not an object but an subject like us.The existence of self and the perception of self are inseparable from the other.This means,the consciousness of the other constitutes as an important part of the consciousness of the self.Therefore,phenomenologists suggested that we should understand others from the perspective of empathy.But these two approaches have never jumped out of the framework of internalism for thinking about other minds,so this paper hopes to find a new way.Philosophy of Mind and Cognitive Science are inseparable.The research theme and paradigm expansion of the second generation of Cognitive Science makes researchers to re-consider the relationship between the brain,mind and the world.The Extended Mind Thesis is one of the most profound theories in the second generation of cognitive science.It proposed that "cognition is not confined in the brain" and "the mind can be extended to the world".This thesis has aroused wide discussion.This paper attempts to use the extended mind to explain the emotional process between subjects,including physical and emotional experiences,and defend some kind of extended emotion thesis based on the perspective of extended mind.This attempt seems to have been denied by the founders of the Extended Mind Thesis,Clark and Chalmers,who rejected the idea of extending the phenomenal consciousness in the early stages of the thesis.However,with the deepening of scholars' research on the problem of other minds,such a viewpoint seems to be increasingly unavoidable,that is,at least in some cases,the consciousness of phenomena can indeed exceed the boundaries of the body.Basing on the biological basis of mirror neurons and the cognitive basis of intention sharing,this paper attempts to consider the problem of other minds from the perspective of the Extended Mind Thesis by turning to the example of emotional sharing.And indicates how the Extended Mind Thesis may provide a new perspective for our understanding of others minds.Besides,re-considering the other minds problem from the perspective of the Extended Mind Theory may serve the purpose of justifying and enriching the theory of extended mind.