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Modularity, Theory Of Mind, And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Marcus P. Adams
Modularity, Theory Of Mind, And Autism Spectrum Disorder, Marcus P. Adams
Philosophy Faculty Scholarship
The theory of mind (ToM) deficit associated with autism spectrum disorder has been a central topic in the debate about the modularity of the mind. In a series of papers, Philip Gerrans and Valerie Stone argue that positing a ToM module does not best explain the deficits exhibited by individuals with autism. In this article, I first criticize Gerrans and Stone’s account. Second, I discuss various studies of individuals with autism and argue that they are best explained by positing a higher-level, domain-specific ToM module.