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Notes on Cognition in the Wild

computation

creation, transformation, progagation of representational states

Question: Is external cognition computation? Moreso than "internal" cognition?

Western Approach

Charts

pp 61 "A navigational chart is an analog computer. Clearly, all the problems that are solved on charts could be represented as equations and solved by symbol-processing techniques."

The power of a chart is that the relationships are implicit.

Unfortunately because the earth is a sphere, maps must choose which relations are explicit. You must pick and choose only a few of:

• straight rhumb lines or great circles
• true shapes of things
• correct angles between things
• correct sizes
• consistent distances

Charts provide a view which cannot be replicated in a boat. A spectator's view, not a participant's. This makes for a difficult (no pun intended) mapping problem. This is why we use the word "mapping" as we do.

Objects are fixed on the chart, fixed on the earth

Polynesian Approach

See the stars as stationary arcs in the sky.

• External structure: stars in the sky
• Internal structure: ability to identify constellations

Question: can this be interpreted as entirely internal?

• They orient themselves based on the arcs stars form in the sky.
• They then get a bearing based on what star-arc corresponds to their destination.
• Distance travelled can be figured from comparing your current bearing to the bearing for your departure island and some other island reference.

They conceptualize the voyage as a stationary canoe, with the islands in motion.