ABSTRACT
In the last chapter, we entertained some objections to the extended credit view, and I took those objections as an invitation to give a deeper analysis of the concept of credit. In this chapter, we take up the concept of ability and evolve it in a way that coheres with the broadening of the concept of credit. An individualistic perspective on human achievement is naturally reflected in a narrow way of looking at ability. As our discussion proceeds, I will use the extended cognition literature to show why an individualistic way of thinking about ability is insufficient, and I will then segue into a discussion of what I call “interlocking abilities.” Abilities which, of their very nature, are intended to pair with the abilities of others. This more inherently social kind of ability will put us in a better position to see how dependence on others can be skillful and thus how success that comes from depending on others can potentially lead to a success from ability.
