Intersubjectivity and cooperation

Intersubjectivity (theory of mind) is not a unitary capacity. We can distinguish five domains of intersubjectivity : emotion, desire, attention, intention, and belief, which I will illustrate with examples in children and non-human animals. I will then focus on the different forms of cooperation, considering those present in non-human animals and those unique to humans, including cooperation about future goals, indirect reciprocity, teaching, and conventions. These forms are analyzed with respect to their cognitive and communicative prerequisites.

The capacity to plan for future needs, combined with more developed cooperative skills, opened up for cooperation towards future goals. Such cooperation requires complex intersubjectivity. Sharing intentions and beliefs about the future requires communication about what is not present in the current environment. Indirect reciprocity depends on reputation mechanisms. I will analyze the communicative requirements for such mechanisms.

Jean Nicod Prize