Material culture both reflects and causes human cognitive evolution

Laura Desirèe Di Paolo; Ben White; Avel Guénin-Carlut; Axel Constant; Andy Clark

doi:10.1017/S0140525X2400092X

Material culture both reflects and causes human cognitive evolution

Laura Desirèe Di Paolo, Ben White, Avel Guénin-Carlut, Axel Constant, Andy Clark^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/opinion › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

In response to: Stibbard-Hawkes, D.N.E. (2025) ‘Reconsidering the link between past material culture and cognition in light of contemporary hunter–gatherer material use’, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 48, p. e1. doi:10.1017/S0140525X24000062.

Our commentary suggests that different materialities (fragile, enduring, and mixed) may influence cognitive evolution. Building on Stibbard-Hawkes, we propose that predictive brains minimise errors and seek information, actively structuring environments for epistemic benefits. This perspective complements Stibbard-Hawkes' view.

Original language	English
Article number	e7
Number of pages	69
Journal	Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Volume	48
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X2400092X
Publication status	Published - 14 Jan 2025

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title = "Material culture both reflects and causes human cognitive evolution",

abstract = "In response to: Stibbard-Hawkes, D.N.E. (2025) {\textquoteleft}Reconsidering the link between past material culture and cognition in light of contemporary hunter–gatherer material use{\textquoteright}, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 48, p. e1. doi:10.1017/S0140525X24000062.Our commentary suggests that different materialities (fragile, enduring, and mixed) may influence cognitive evolution. Building on Stibbard-Hawkes, we propose that predictive brains minimise errors and seek information, actively structuring environments for epistemic benefits. This perspective complements Stibbard-Hawkes' view.",

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T1 - Material culture both reflects and causes human cognitive evolution

AU - Di Paolo, Laura Desirèe

AU - White, Ben

AU - Guénin-Carlut, Avel

AU - Constant, Axel

AU - Clark, Andy

PY - 2025/1/14

Y1 - 2025/1/14

N2 - In response to: Stibbard-Hawkes, D.N.E. (2025) ‘Reconsidering the link between past material culture and cognition in light of contemporary hunter–gatherer material use’, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 48, p. e1. doi:10.1017/S0140525X24000062.Our commentary suggests that different materialities (fragile, enduring, and mixed) may influence cognitive evolution. Building on Stibbard-Hawkes, we propose that predictive brains minimise errors and seek information, actively structuring environments for epistemic benefits. This perspective complements Stibbard-Hawkes' view.

AB - In response to: Stibbard-Hawkes, D.N.E. (2025) ‘Reconsidering the link between past material culture and cognition in light of contemporary hunter–gatherer material use’, Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 48, p. e1. doi:10.1017/S0140525X24000062.Our commentary suggests that different materialities (fragile, enduring, and mixed) may influence cognitive evolution. Building on Stibbard-Hawkes, we propose that predictive brains minimise errors and seek information, actively structuring environments for epistemic benefits. This perspective complements Stibbard-Hawkes' view.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85215621488

U2 - 10.1017/S0140525X2400092X

DO - 10.1017/S0140525X2400092X

M3 - Comment/opinion

C2 - 39807712

AN - SCOPUS:85215621488

SN - 0140-525X

VL - 48

JO - Behavioral and Brain Sciences

JF - Behavioral and Brain Sciences

M1 - e7

ER -

Material culture both reflects and causes human cognitive evolution

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