Author(s)

Doudou Wang

Corresponding Author

Doudou Wang

ABSTRACT

I will present my comprehension of Clark’s ideas examined in ‘Magic words: how language augments human computation’. I shall start by reviewing some classic views about supra-communicative functions of language contributed by other thinkers. Then, I will discuss six ways proposed by Clark about how language complements the activity of human brain. Next, I will evaluate how language works to cognition within the example of mangroves. Finally, the idea of extended mind will be studied with the question of ‘where the mind ends and the rest of the world begins’ (1998: 181).From the contextual standpoint, I focus on Waldorf education which is also called as Steiner schools. Founded by Rudorf Steiner, Waldorf education provides a curriculum emphasizing on art education and experiential learning, without standardized assessment (Sobo, 2014). Based on anthroposophy, the philosophy of Waldorf education is to cultivate the wisdom of students and develop students’ thinking, feeling and willing. Different with mainstream schooling, Waldorf schools have their own pedagogical practices and teaching strategies. In this essay, I will attempt to explore and analyse Clarks’ ideas through answering the question of how these ideas are embedded in the philosophy and practices of Waldorf education.

KEYWORDS

Supra-communicative functions of language, Waldorf education, Clark’s ideas examine