Joint Action: The Challenge
Lecturer: Stephen A. Butterfill
Joint action is arguably required to explain the emergence, in evolution or development, of sophisticated forms of human activity including, referential communication and mindreading.
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Notes
Challenge Explain the emergence of sophisticated human activities including referential communication and mindreading.
Conjecture Joint action plays a role in explaining how sophisticated human activities emerge.
This conjecture is inspired by a range of authors who take different approaches:
‘humans acquire knowledge at a pace far outstripping that found in any other species. Recent evidence indicates that interpersonal understanding–—in particular, skill at inferring others’ intentions—–plays a pivotal role in this achievement’ (Baldwin, 2000, p. \ 40).
‘functions traditionally considered hallmarks of individual cognition originated through the need to interact with others …\ perception, action, and cognition are grounded in social interaction’ (Knoblich & Sebanz, 2006, p. \ 103).
‘human cognitive abilities … [are] built upon social interaction’ (Sinigaglia & Sparaci, 2008).
Vygotskian Intelligence Hypothesis: ‘the unique aspects of human cognition … were driven by, or even constituted by, social co-operation’ (Moll & Tomasello, 2007, p. \ 1).