Contextuality across the sciences: Bell-type theorems in physics and cognitive science

Abstract

Contextuality is a transdisciplinary phenomenon observed across the sciences, including in particular physics, linguistics, artificial intelligence, and cognitive science. In the present paper we shed new light on cognitive contextuality based upon recent developments of quantum cognitive science. We first discuss quantum cognitive science from the perspective of contextuality studies, and formulate the basic tenet of quantum cognitive science as the quantum cognition thesis or the structural quantum mind thesis as opposed to Penrose’s (controversial) quantum brain thesis or material quantum mind thesis. We then discuss Bell-type contextuality results in physics and in cognitive science, and elucidate fundamental differences between cognitive contextuality and physical contextuality. Quantum cognitive science allows us to explicate similarities and dissimilarities between the laws of matter and the laws of mind, contributing to a deeper understanding of the Cartesian dualism.