Introduction to Volume 1, Issue 2 of topiCS

Abstract

Welcome! The second issue of topiCS is devoted to two topics in cognitive science —Philosophy in and Philosophy of Cognitive Science and the Social and Cognitive Mechanisms of Joint Action. The first is being handled by Associate Editor Andrew Brook (Carleton University). This is an Integrative and Reflective topic (please see discussion of this category in my introduction to the first issue of topiCS) that is represented in this issue by three papers; Andrew’s wide-scoped introduction, a small and interesting paper on The Part of Cognitive Science That Is Philosophy by Daniel Dennett, and a longer, very readable paper by Paul Thagard on Why Cognitive Science Needs Philosophy and Vice Versa. This topic is intended as a theme that will be spread throughout many issues of the journal. In addition to the three papers in this first installment, Andrew has commitments from William Bechtel, Pierre Jacob, Thomas Metzinger, and Zenon Pylyshyn for contributions to future installments. As a continuing theme, we encourage the submission of new papers and commentaries by philosophers as well as other members of the Cognitive Science community. The topic on Joint Action fits in the New and Emerging category. Associate Editors Bruno Galantucci (U. Yeshiva and Haskins Laboratories) and Natalie Sebanz (U. Radboud, Nijmegan) have brought together an impressive and impressively diverse group of researchers. This issue provides an important venue for crosstalk within this group as well as an introduction of this emerging field to the wider Cognitive Science community. Although Joint Action will not be a continuing topic, space has been reserved in future issues for Commentary and Response on these papers. The easiest way to propose a new topic is to send an e-mail note directly to the Executive Editor, Wayne Gray, at [email protected]. Keep this first note short (about 300–650 words or fewer). Be sure to indicate the topic category that you think it fits (New and Emerging, Integration and Reflection, or Great Debates). Say something about why this is a topic for a cognitive science journal rather than a specialty journal. Also say something about the cognitive science perspectives that you envision contributing to the topic (e.g., behavioral, philosophical, neuroscience, computational, linguistic, robotic, anthropological, educational, and/or psychological). If your topic is based on a successful symposium, workshop, or a new grouping of researchers, then say something about this as well.