A Taxonomy of Cognitive Artifacts: Function, Information, and Categories

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to develop a systematic taxonomy of cognitive artifacts, i.e., human-made, physical objects that functionally contribute to performing a cognitive task. First, I identify the target domain by conceptualizing the category of cognitive artifacts as a functional kind: a kind of artifact that is defined purely by its function. Next, on the basis of their informational properties, I develop a set of related subcategories in which cognitive artifacts with similar properties can be grouped. In this taxonomy, I distinguish between three taxa, those of family, genus, and species. The family includes all cognitive artifacts without further specifying their informational properties. Two genera are then distinguished: representational and non-representational (or ecological) cognitive artifacts. These genera are further divided into species. In case of representational artifacts, these species are iconic, indexical, or symbolic. In case of ecological artifacts, these species are spatial or structural. Within species, token artifacts are identified. The proposed taxonomy is an important first step towards a better understanding of the range and variety of cognitive artifacts and is a helpful point of departure, both for conceptualizing how different artifacts augment or impair cognitive performance and how they transform and are integrated into our cognitive system and practices.

Artefatos de informação regulados e não regulados nas estratégias de uso de múltiplos medicamentos por idosos

“…Artefatos de informação são artefatos cognitivos por serem intencionalmente projetados e feitos para auxiliarem a cognição humana (Heersmink, 2013). Suas propriedades informacionais auxiliam na realização de tarefas cognitivas.…”

The philosophy of memory technologies: Metaphysics, knowledge, and values

“…Cognitive artifacts are material objects used to aid not just memory, but all kinds of cognitive tasks and processes such as navigating, calculating, making inferences, and problem-solving (Norman 1991(Norman , 1993Hutchins 1999;Heersmink 2013Heersmink , 2016a. The current debate in the metaphysics of technology concerning artifact function (e.g., Houkes & Vermaas 2010;Preston 2013) is relevant for better understanding memory technologies.…”

“…Richard Heersmink (2013Heersmink ( , 2016a suggests a narrower and more specific approach to taxonomizing external memory systems, viz. in terms of the particular informational properties of the artifact in question.…”

Introduction: Critiquing technologies of the mind: enhancement, alteration, and anthropotechnology

“…Likewise, it is easy to point to normative discussions in the philosophy of technology that are concerned with human-technology relations, and in particular the technological extension of cognitive capacities, which also draw heavily upon and engage with FE-PHEN-4E approaches (Kiran and Verbeek 2010 is one such example). As Walsh notes in this issue, there are also ample instances of philosophers who have noted the important relation between the theory of extended cognition and cognitive enhancement, (Buller 2013;Clark 2007;Heersmink 2011Heersmink , 2013Levy 2007).…”