The cognitive life of mechanical molecular models

被引:12
作者
Charbonneau, Mathieu [1 ]
机构
[1] Konrad Lorenz Inst Evolut & Cognit Res, Adolf Lorenz Gasse 2, A-3422 Altenberg, Austria
关键词
Molecular models; Physical models; Cognitive augmentation; Haptic reasoning; Biochemistry; Molecular biology;
D O I
10.1016/j.shpsc.2013.06.007
中图分类号
N09 [自然科学史]; B [哲学、宗教];
学科分类号
01 ; 0101 ; 010108 ; 060207 ; 060305 ; 0712 ;
摘要
The use of physical models of molecular structures as research tools has been central to the development of biochemistry and molecular biology. Intriguingly, it has received little attention from scholars of science. In this paper, I argue that these physical models are not mere three-dimensional representations but that they are in fact very special research tools: they are cognitive augmentations. Despite the fact that they are external props, these models serve as cognitive tools that augment and extend the modeler's cognitive capacities and performance in molecular modeling tasks. This cognitive enhancement is obtained because of the way the modeler interacts with these models, the models' materiality contributing to the solving of the molecule's structure. Furthermore, I argue that these material models and their component parts were designed, built and used specifically to serve as cognitive facilitators and cognitive augmentations. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:585 / 594
页数:10
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