The term embodiment identifies a theory that meaning and semantics cannot be captured by abstract, logical systems, but are dependent on an agent’s experience derived from being situated in an environment. This theory has recently received a great deal of support in the cognitive science literature and is having significant impact in artificial intelligence. Memetics refers to the theory that k...

As part of the ongoing attempt to fully naturalize the concept of human being—and, more specifically, to re -center it around the notion of agency—this essay discusses an approach to defining the content of representations in terms ultimately derived from their central, evolved function of providing guidance for action. This ‘guidance theory’ of representation is discussed in the context of, an...

This paper reviews some of the differences between notions of biological and robotic autonomy, and how these differences have been reflected in discussions of embodiment, grounding and other concepts in AI and autonomous robotics. Furthermore, the relations between homeostasis, emotion and embodied cognition are discussed as well as recent proposals to model their interplay in robots, which ref...

An analysis of a design rationale focusing on the embodiment design stage is presented through the characterization of information describing design problems, alternative solutions, arguments, explanations and decisions of designers. The characterization of the design questions resulted from empirical research. The findings have been used to describe in detail elements of a design rationale cap...

A framework for understanding and exploiting embodiment is presented which is not dependent on any specific ontological context. This framework is founded on a new definition of embodiment, based on the relational dynamics that exist between biological organisms and their environments, and inspired by the structural dynamics of the bacterium Escherichia coli. Full recognition is given to the ro...

The centrality of the embodiment of mind, self, and values for the later Nietzsche is widely acknowledged. Here, I reconstrue Nietzsche’s HL to show that he uses his drive model of the mind already in this early text. The “historical sickness” central to HL is diagnosed in the form of failures of embodiment and drive control. First, I argue that a precursor to Nietzsche’s figure of “the last hu...

Although it has been shown that immersive virtual reality (IVR) can be used to induce illusions of ownership over a virtual body (VB), information on whether this changes implicit interpersonal attitudes is meager. Here we demonstrate that embodiment of light-skinned participants in a dark-skinned VB significantly reduced implicit racial bias against dark-skinned people, in contrast to embodime...

Previous research has demonstrated that the Action-Observation Network (AON) is involved in both emotional-embodiment (empathy) and action-embodiment mechanisms. In this study, we hypothesized that interfering with the AON will impair action recognition and that this impairment will be modulated by empathy levels. In Experiment 1 (n = 90), participants were asked to recognize facial expressions...

We investigated whether “embodiment” of objects used in a problem-solving task (i.e., whether they have a bodily shape) would have a detrimental effect on learning to solve that problem through practice or through studying video-based modeling examples. A 2x2 design with factors Training (Practice/Example study) and Embodiment (Present/Absent) was used (N = 80). Results showed a large main effe...

The Embodiment Generation project at Cambridge Engineering Design Centre is researching the creation of software tools to aid the designer in the rapid generation and evaluation of feasible embodiment designs. This involves managing a large set of design variables connected by various types of constraints. Using a product model and a library of generic components, tools have previously been pro...