In Defense of Phenomenological Approaches to Social Cognition: Interacting with the Critics

I clarify recently developed phenomenological approaches to social cognition. These are approaches that, drawing on developmental
science, social neuroscience, and dynamic systems theory, emphasize the involvement of embodied and enactive processes together
with communicative and narrative practices in contexts of intersubjective understanding. I review some of the evidence that
supports these approaches. I consider a variety of criticisms leveled against them, and defend the role of phenomenology in
the explanation of social cognition. Finally, I show how these phenomenological approaches can solve the “starting problem”
of social cognition.