At its most radical, embodied cognition means that not only are mind and body one system, but mind, body, and environment are one system. The research suggests that this isn't just an evolutionary accident or just something appropriate for biological entities, because the findings are being looked at to improve future robot designs. Embodied intelligence may be inherently superior to models of AI in which cognition is rigorously separated from sensation and movement.

This sounds pretty dry and many people will say "so what?"--it takes a while for the implications of these ideas to percolate through. For instance, if cognition is physically bound, then Reason begins to climb down off its pedestal; either it's "human, all-too human" as Nietzsche said, or it's a characteristic of the physical world, not just the prized (and exclusive) possession of humanity. These ideas in turn have a domino effect over others, for instance calling into question the basis of many legal and ethical arguments that are based on the idea that human beings are distinct and unique compared to other entities.

In any case, it's early days yet. I think I've said before that I believe the findings of cognitive science are going to sneak up on us--all of a sudden there'll be a critical mass of understanding about these issues and it will all land like a bomb in the middle of religion, law, politics and tradition.

Can't wait.

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