This working paper formalizes the Temporal Scaffolding Hypothesis (TSH), examining how large-scale computational systems function as extrinsic cognitive organs rather than mere dynamic weight-modifiers. Addressing common anxieties surrounding "cognitive atrophy," the paper contrasts internal mnemonic evolution with contemporary silicon architecture, demonstrating how human-supplied temporality—operating through recursive feedback loops—drives conceptual evolution and expands human working memory. Complete with a rigorous counter-argument framework and falsifiable empirical predictions, this work bridges classical cognitive philosophy with modern artificial intelligence theory.
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Taylor Steele (2026) studied this question.
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