But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approach
Describing an algorithm can provide a formalization of a specific process. However, different ways of conceptualizing algorithms foreground certain issues while obscuring others. This article attempts to define an algorithm in a broad sense as a cultural activity of key importance to make sense of s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | deu |
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Copernicus Center Press
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Zagadnienia Filozoficzne w Nauce |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://zfn.edu.pl/index.php/zfn/article/view/596 |
| _version_ | 1811154576587358208 |
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| author | Javier Toscano |
| author_facet | Javier Toscano |
| author_sort | Javier Toscano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Describing an algorithm can provide a formalization of a specific process. However, different ways of conceptualizing algorithms foreground certain issues while obscuring others. This article attempts to define an algorithm in a broad sense as a cultural activity of key importance to make sense of socio-cognitive structures. It also attempts to develop a sharper account on the interaction between humans and tools, symbols and technologies. Rather than human or machine-centered analyses, I draw upon sociological and anthropological theories that underline social practices to propose expanding our understanding of an algorithm through the notion of ‘collective intentionalities’. To make this term clear, a brief historical review is presented, followed by an argumentation on how to incorporate it in an integral perspective. The article responds to recent debates in critical algorithm studies about the significance of the term. It develops a discussion along the lines of cognitive anthropology and the cognitive sciences, therefore advancing a definition that is grounded in observed practices as well as in modeled descriptions. The benefit of this approach is that it encourages scholars to explore cognitive structures via archaeologies of technological assemblages, where intentionalities play a defining role in understanding socio-structured practices and cognitive ecologies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:19:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35f4b07ecc6b4e09b1cfcafceae94306 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0867-8286 2451-0602 |
| language | deu |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:19:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Center Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zagadnienia Filozoficzne w Nauce |
| spelling | doaj.art-35f4b07ecc6b4e09b1cfcafceae943062023-03-11T12:18:23ZdeuCopernicus Center PressZagadnienia Filozoficzne w Nauce0867-82862451-06022022-12-01734776544But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approachJavier Toscano0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8317-8311CAIS, Center for Advanced Internet StudiesDescribing an algorithm can provide a formalization of a specific process. However, different ways of conceptualizing algorithms foreground certain issues while obscuring others. This article attempts to define an algorithm in a broad sense as a cultural activity of key importance to make sense of socio-cognitive structures. It also attempts to develop a sharper account on the interaction between humans and tools, symbols and technologies. Rather than human or machine-centered analyses, I draw upon sociological and anthropological theories that underline social practices to propose expanding our understanding of an algorithm through the notion of ‘collective intentionalities’. To make this term clear, a brief historical review is presented, followed by an argumentation on how to incorporate it in an integral perspective. The article responds to recent debates in critical algorithm studies about the significance of the term. It develops a discussion along the lines of cognitive anthropology and the cognitive sciences, therefore advancing a definition that is grounded in observed practices as well as in modeled descriptions. The benefit of this approach is that it encourages scholars to explore cognitive structures via archaeologies of technological assemblages, where intentionalities play a defining role in understanding socio-structured practices and cognitive ecologies.https://zfn.edu.pl/index.php/zfn/article/view/596algorithm studiesdistributed cognitioncollective intentionalitiessocio-computing infrastructurescognitive anthropology |
| spellingShingle | Javier Toscano But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approach Zagadnienia Filozoficzne w Nauce algorithm studies distributed cognition collective intentionalities socio-computing infrastructures cognitive anthropology |
| title | But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approach |
| title_full | But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approach |
| title_fullStr | But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approach |
| title_short | But seriously: what do algorithms want? Implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays. A distributed cognition approach |
| title_sort | but seriously what do algorithms want implying collective intentionalities in algorithmic relays a distributed cognition approach |
| topic | algorithm studies distributed cognition collective intentionalities socio-computing infrastructures cognitive anthropology |
| url | https://zfn.edu.pl/index.php/zfn/article/view/596 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT javiertoscano butseriouslywhatdoalgorithmswantimplyingcollectiveintentionalitiesinalgorithmicrelaysadistributedcognitionapproach |