1st Edition

An Introduction to Embodied Mind Thinking Outside the Head

By Aaron Kagan, Charles Lassiter Copyright 2026
266 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

266 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

266 Pages 8 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

An Introduction to Embodied Mind: Thinking Outside the Head offers readers a valuable gateway to understanding one of the most exciting ideas in philosophy and cognitive science: that minds are not confined to the brain but extend into the body and environment. Written in a clear, engaging style, the book guides readers through competing views of embodiment and shows how they matter for everyday... Read more

Gratitude

Part 1: Framing the Question

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: From aporia to philosophy

Chapter 3: The rise and fall of disembodiment

Chapter 4: The extended mind

Part 2: Refining the Theories

Chapter 5: Interlude

Chapter 6: Interpretations of the extended mind

Chapter 7: Weak embodied cognition

Chapter 8: Objections to weak embodied cognition

Chapter 9: Strong embodiment

Chapter 10: Objections to strong embodiment

Part 3: Applications and Extensions

Chapter 11: Interlude: Exposition to application

Chapter 12: Free will, determinism, and embodiment

Chapter 13: Ethics and embodiment

Chapter 14: Technology and embodiment

Chapter 15: Future directions

Suggested reading

Glossary

Biography

Aaron Kagan is a Staff User Experience Researcher at Google and the founder of GraspingAI, a consultancy that helps businesses strategize and implement generative AI technologies. He serves as Chair of the American Philosophical Association’s Committee on Non-Academic Careers, supporting graduate students and PhDs pursuing diverse career paths.

Charles Lassiter is Professor of Philosophy at Gonzaga University. His areas of research include philosophy of mind and social epistemology, focusing on issues at the intersection of cognition and culture. He also collects and analyzes data about the academic philosophy job market.

“An Introduction to Embodied Mind is a terrific introductory text on the philosophy of embodied and extended cognition. The authors bring philosophical issues to life through intriguing real-world examples and case studies, explicitly addressing applied topics of ethical and personal significance alongside their coherent and powerful framework in philosophy of mind. A focused line of thought is established over the course of the book, even while the authors give fair attention to approaches which diverge from their preferred one. Students in all areas of Philosophy, as well as other researchers interested in embodied cognition, will enjoy and benefit from this book”.

John SuttonProfessor in Philosophy at Stirling University, Scotland