The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast – Ep. 326: Guest Michael Tomasello on the Evolution of Agency (Part One)

Intro

In this episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast,” the hosts are joined by guest Michael Tomasello to discuss the evolution of agency. They explore the concept of agency from its primitive origins to its manifestation in humans, examining its features, attributes, and implications. Through their conversation, they shed light on the relationship between agency, evolution, and cognitive abilities, offering insights into the nature of decision-making, normativity, and shared intentionality.

Main Takeaways

Evolution of Agency

• The concept of agency can be better understood by examining its evolution from primitive life forms to humans.
• Studying things in their simplest and earliest forms can make complex topics clearer.
• All creatures are organized in a feedback model of goal state, action, and perception.
• Natural selection selected for this kind of feedback organization that enabled organisms to make their own decisions in some circumstances.
• The four lanes of different levels of agency provide waypoints for how organisms might evolve and improve.
• Evolution and natural selection drive changes in organisms to function better in new environments and solve new problems.

Pragmatism and Agency

• American pragmatists were the first to take evolution seriously.
• Pragmatists had a kind of control system that focused on practical consequences of actions and decision making.
• Dewey’s emphasis on knowledge and action being inseparable is reflected in the book.

Shared Intentionality and Normativity

• Shared intentionality and shared agency form joint goals, and cognitive capacities give us normativity and objectivity.
• Understanding normativity involves thinking about it as involving collective agency.

Humans and Cooperation

• Psychological agency, meaning organized like a control system, is characteristic of certain forms of life where they live in uncertainty and make individual decisions in the moment.
• Humans have to cooperate, which requires a different set of cognitive skills and shared intentionality to effectively deal with interdependence.
• The problem of cooperation can be summed up by the quote “Hell is other people”.

Empirical Tools and Philosophical Frameworks

• Philosophy often relies on storytelling to understand complex concepts before empirical data is available.
• Specialization in different sciences makes it difficult for philosophers to stay in touch with empirical data.
• The speaker is using empirical tools to trace a story about biological evolution and tying it to philosophical frameworks.
• Traditional cognitive science does not provide helpful information about human social, cooperative, and normative behavior.

Summary

The Evolution of Agency

The concept of agency, which refers to the ability to make choices and take intentional actions, can be better understood by examining its evolution from primitive life forms to humans. By studying simpler organisms and their feedback mechanisms, we can gain insights into the fundamental features and attributes of agency. Natural selection has favored organisms with the ability to make their own decisions in certain circumstances, leading to the development of different levels of agency. This evolutionary perspective helps us understand how organisms adapt to new environments and solve problems.

Pragmatism and Agency

American pragmatists, such as John Dewey, were among the first to take evolution seriously and explore its implications for understanding agency. Pragmatism emphasizes the practical consequences of actions and decision-making, highlighting the inseparable relationship between knowledge and action. Dewey’s ideas on the integration of knowledge and action are reflected in his influential book. By considering the pragmatist approach to agency, we can gain insights into the practical aspects of decision-making and the consequences of our actions.

Shared Intentionality and Normativity

Shared intentionality and shared agency play a crucial role in forming joint goals and cognitive capacities, which give rise to normativity and objectivity. Understanding normativity involves thinking about it as involving collective agency, where individuals cooperate and align their actions towards common goals. By exploring the concept of shared intentionality, we can gain insights into the social and cognitive aspects of normativity and how it shapes our behavior and interactions.

Humans and Cooperation

While psychological agency, characterized by individual decision-making in uncertain situations, is prevalent in certain forms of life, humans face the challenge of cooperation. Cooperation requires a different set of cognitive skills and shared intentionality to effectively deal with interdependence. The problem of cooperation can be complex, as individuals navigate their own interests while working towards common goals. Exploring the dynamics of cooperation can shed light on the complexities of human social behavior and the challenges it presents.

Empirical Tools and Philosophical Frameworks

Philosophy often relies on storytelling and conceptual frameworks to understand complex concepts before empirical data becomes available. However, specialization in different sciences can make it challenging for philosophers to stay in touch with the latest empirical data. In this episode, the speaker employs empirical tools to trace a story about biological evolution and connect it to philosophical frameworks. By bridging the gap between empirical research and philosophical inquiry, we can gain a deeper understanding of human social, cooperative, and normative behavior.

Conclusion

Exploring the evolution of agency provides valuable insights into the nature of decision-making, normativity, and shared intentionality. By studying simpler organisms and their feedback mechanisms, we can better understand the fundamental features and attributes of agency. Additionally, considering philosophical frameworks in light of empirical research allows for a more comprehensive understanding of human social behavior and the challenges of cooperation. This episode offers a thought-provoking exploration of agency’s evolution and its implications for our understanding of ourselves and the world we live in.