Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Journal | Volume | Article

142911

How to share a mind

reconsidering the group mind thesis

Thomas Szanto(University of Copenhagen, Center for Subjectivity Research)

pp. 99-120

Abstract

Standard accounts in social ontology and the group cognition debate have typically focused on how collective modes, types, and contents of intentions or representational states must be construed so as to constitute the jointness of the respective agents, cognizers, and their engagements. However, if we take intentions, beliefs, or mental representations all to instantiate some mental properties, then the more basic issue regarding such collective engagements is what it is for groups of individual minds to share a mind. Somewhat surprisingly, this very issue has not received much attention in the respective debates and when it has, typically the outlook has been skeptical or outright negative. In this paper, I argue that it is epistemologically possible for a group of individuals to literally share a single mental unit. In particular, I will put forward and defend what I shall call the zombie conception of group minds.

Publication details

Published in:

Salice Alessandro, Tummolini Luca (2014) Social facts. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 13 (1).

Pages: 99-120

DOI: 10.1007/s11097-013-9323-1

Full citation:

Szanto Thomas (2014) „How to share a mind: reconsidering the group mind thesis“. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences 13 (1), 99–120.