TY - JOUR
T1 - Control at the heart of life
T2 - a philosophical review of perceptual control theory
AU - Cochrane, Tom
AU - Nestor, Matthew J.
PY - 2025/6
Y1 - 2025/6
N2 - Perceptual-control theory offers a physically reductive way to account for teleology or goal-directedness, ranging from the initial emergence of life to creatures capable of regulating their own consciousness. This broad framework motivates key aspects of the perceptual-control model including the flexibility of behaviour, the hierarchy of aims or values, and the links between control and affective states. In this way, perceptual control theory integrates the psychological constants of representation, evaluation, and action.
AB - Perceptual-control theory offers a physically reductive way to account for teleology or goal-directedness, ranging from the initial emergence of life to creatures capable of regulating their own consciousness. This broad framework motivates key aspects of the perceptual-control model including the flexibility of behaviour, the hierarchy of aims or values, and the links between control and affective states. In this way, perceptual control theory integrates the psychological constants of representation, evaluation, and action.
KW - Perceptual control theory
KW - teleology
KW - goal-directedness
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105002239983&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101526
DO - 10.1016/j.cobeha.2025.101526
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:105002239983
SN - 2352-1546
VL - 63
JO - Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences
JF - Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences
M1 - 101526
ER -