This volume investigates whether mental states are confined to the individual mind or if they are fundamentally shaped by the subject's physical and social environment. Philip Pettit and John McDowell curate a collection of essays that challenge traditional internalist views of cognition. By examining the interplay between the mind and its external context, the authors argue for a more integrated understanding of mental processes that accounts for environmental influence.

Experts recognize this collection as a significant contribution to the debate on the extended mind and cognitive architecture. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, making it a challenging but rewarding text for advanced students and researchers in philosophy and cognitive science.