Fictional interaction Merel Semeijn Faculty of philosophy University of Groningen

(Frith, 2001) 2 4 Puzzle

Plan of the talk Two theoretical elements MEC-account Comparison 1. Matravers 2. Embodied Cognition theory MEC-account Comparison Leslie Perner Harris

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Matravers Imagination – fiction Cognitive processes involved in engagement with narratives are neutral regarding fictionality Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Embodied Cognition theory Social embodied cognition Narrative competence: folk psychological narratives Social embodied cognition and narrative competence lie on a developmental continuum Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison M: Narrative competence is neutral regarding fictionality EC: Social embodied cognition  narrative competence MEC: Social embodied cognition is neutral regarding fictionality Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Pretend play is a type of interaction Presupposition not to believe Representational element Pretend play = Representational fictional interaction Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

MEC and the puzzle of pretend play Pretend play False belief test Social embodied cognition Narrative competence Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Leslie Pretend play False belief test Metarepresentation Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Leslie MEC-account Pretend play False belief test Metarepresentation Social embodied cognition Narrative competence Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Perner Pretend play False belief test Secondary representation Metarepresentation Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Perner MEC-account False belief test Embellished false belief test Metarepresentation Social embodied cognition Further developed narrative competence Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Harris Pretend play False belief test Simulation (of beliefs) Simulation (of beliefs and intentions) Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison Harris MEC-account Nonverbal false belief test False belief test Simulation (of beliefs and intentions) Social embodied cognition Narrative competence Two theoretical elements – MEC-account – Comparison

Conclusions Pretend play = fictional interaction Open questions Pretend play requires social embodied cognition which is neutral regarding fictionality Passing false belief tests requires narrative competence which is neutral regarding fictionality Open questions Empirical testing de Villiers