Ecologies of Animal Minds: An Ecological Approach to Comparative Cognition

In the realm of comparative cognition, researchers often seek specific cognitive abilities in other species without questioning the validity of such pursuits. Many of the abilities we explore in nonhuman animals stem from a view on human cognition that neglects the influence of our unique environments and bodies on our cognitive capacities. This framework not only centres on humans but also disregards how the bodies and environments of other animals shape their abilities. This dual oversight leads to “anthropofabrication”, the inclination to make animals appear similar to us by selectively emphasizing (allegedly) human-like features while disregarding species-specific variations.

Considering provocative debates on episodic memory, theory of mind and cognitive maps, Van Woerkum-Rooker introduces an approach that avoids anthropofabrication, by viewing abilities as skilful behaviours within an environment consisting of nested affordances – opportunities for action interconnected across multiple levels and in various ways.