Exograms and Interdisciplinarity: History, the Extended Mind, and the Civilizing Process

Abstract This chapter aims to describe two compatible but distinct movements or "waves" within the literature of the extended mind hypothesis (EM) and to defend and illustrate the interdisciplinary implications of EM as best understood by sketching two case studies. Derived from functionalist information-processing cognitive science, EM focused on the ability of man to connect with external symbols or what Merlin Donald refers to as "exograms." Exograms enable man to create cognitive profiles, unlike creatures that are restricted to the brain's biological memories or "engrams." According to Donald, exograms last longer than engrams, have greater capacity, are more easily transmissible across media and context, and can be retrieved and manipulated by a greater variety of means.