Embodied mind
Nested Markov blankets beyond internalism
Open access · cc by · source: Europe PMC
Cognitive boundaries are multiple nested Markov blankets; brain, body, and world are not uniquely privileged.
Study at a glance
- Design
- Other — Free-energy/Markov-blanket argument for nested cognitive boundaries beyond internalism/externalism
- N
- Theoretical cognitive science/philosophy; not an empirical sample
- Population
- Debates on cognitive boundaries (brain, body, world) in embodied/extended cognition
- Outcome
- Multiple nested Markov blankets rather than a uniquely privileged cognitive boundary
Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.
Key findings
A living system is a hierarchy of blankets; which boundary matters depends on the phenomenon and explanatory interests, which implies both ontological and methodological pluralism coordinated by the FEP.
Methodology
They use the variational free-energy principle and Markov-blanket formalism to reject unique, essential cognitive boundaries and the Equal Partner Principle, defending a multiscale integrationist alternative to internalism versus externalism.
Limitations
The FEP is not a theory of everything: it does not by itself explain the processes that constitute living systems, and it does not make every contributing factor equally important.
How this study connects
Role on claims
Each row is a claim on a concept or method page where this paper supports, challenges, or qualifies the statement. Roles are hand-checked — not a model guess.
Cognitive boundaries are multiple nested Markov blankets; brain, body and world are not uniquely privileged.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Mehling’s body-awareness paper is a phenomenological take on therapies; the Markov-blanket paper is a formal multi-scale claim — they share anti-internalism without sharing a method.
Evidence for the claim as stated.
Open questions
Tensions this paper is part of
From concept pages' “where studies disagree.” Disagreement means the same question; scope means different assays, populations, or outcomes.
Mehling’s body-awareness paper is a phenomenological take on therapies; the Markov-blanket paper is a formal multi-scale claim — they share anti-internalism without sharing a method.
- Supports · What do mind-body therapies share?
Related papers in this topic
Same topic cluster — not a recommendation engine.