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

Intro

In this episode of “The Partially Examined Life Philosophy Podcast,” the hosts continue their discussion with Michael Tomasello on the evolution of agency. They explore the concept of agency in animals, the development of shared intentionality, and the implications for understanding human culture and society.

Main Takeaways

Animals and Decision-Making

• Animals, including cats and squirrels, exhibit decision-making abilities through head switching behavior.
• Tomasello’s concept of agency involves the ability to simulate possible action plans, evaluate goals and risks, and make decisions after a deliberative process.
• Some people may object to Tomasello’s liberal use of the term agency, but it accurately describes the cognitive abilities of animals.

Evolution of Agency

• The evolution of agency involves the development of shared intentionality and cooperative communication among humans and other animals.
• Understanding the evolution of agency can shed light on the origins of human culture and society.
• Articulating rationality through understanding the evolution of agency.

Levels of Agency

• Talking about agency in a layered way to make helpful distinctions.
• Providing a clear and articulate way to talk about different levels of agency and resulting actions.
• Giving an evolutionary spectrum to talk about the cognitive abilities of various animals.

Cognitive Abilities in Animals

• Reptiles are the first example of an agentive organism, able to inhibit a behavior in a certain circumstance and make executive-level decisions.
• Mammals have cognitive control, including proactive inhibition and instrumental learning.
• Attention is the most basic mechanism generating conscious experience.

Summary

Understanding Animal Agency

Michael Tomasello’s concept of agency extends beyond human beings and includes animals. Animals, such as cats and squirrels, exhibit decision-making abilities through head switching behavior. While some may question the use of the term “agency” for animals, it accurately describes their cognitive abilities. The evolution of agency involves the development of shared intentionality and cooperative communication among humans and other animals. By understanding the evolution of agency, we can gain insights into the origins of human culture and society.

Different Levels of Agency

Tomasello proposes a layered approach to understanding agency, which allows for helpful distinctions and clear communication. By categorizing different levels of agency, we can talk about the cognitive abilities of various animals and the resulting actions. Reptiles, for example, are the first example of an agentive organism, capable of inhibiting behaviors and making executive-level decisions. Mammals, on the other hand, exhibit cognitive control, including proactive inhibition and instrumental learning. Attention is identified as the most basic mechanism generating conscious experience.

The Role of Cognitive Abilities in Animals

Understanding the cognitive abilities of animals is crucial in comprehending their agency. Reptiles, mammals, and other animals possess varying levels of cognitive control and decision-making capabilities. For example, reptiles can modify their behavior, learn stimulus-response relationships, and imagine possible plans of action to achieve goals. Mammals, on the other hand, have proactive inhibition and instrumental learning, allowing them to understand the causal relationship between actions and consequences in their environment. Attention plays a vital role in generating conscious experiences and attending to an organism’s own goals and actions.

Conclusion

Michael Tomasello’s exploration of the evolution of agency provides valuable insights into the cognitive abilities of animals and their implications for human culture and society. By understanding different levels of agency and the cognitive control exhibited by various animals, we can gain a deeper understanding of decision-making processes and conscious experiences. This discussion opens up new avenues for examining the origins of human rationality and behavior.