Limiting the explanatory scope of extended active inference: the implications of a causal pattern analysis of selective niche construction, developmental niche construction, and organism-niche coordination dynamics

Abstract Research in evolutionary biology and philosophy of cognition strongly suggests that human organisms modify their environment through active processes niche construction. Recently, proponents the free-energy principle variational inference have argued approach can deepen our understanding reciprocal causal relationship between on various scales. This paper examines feasibility scope formalisations conceptualisations organism-niche nexus with a particular focus extended account. I will draw conceptual distinction selective construction, developmental coordination dynamics argue these notions capture different patterns, each which distinct scope. Against this background, analyse discuss account its strategy to integrate work cognition. The assume provide an explanation dynamics. However, my key claim be has potential elucidate workings dynamics, but does not adequately patterns construction