Situation Awareness: Context Matters! A Commentary on Endsley

The construct of situation awareness (SA) and Endsley’s 1995 model of SA are considered in the context of the history of the struggle to determine the role of matter (situations) and mind (awareness) for both basic and applied cognitive science. This struggle is framed in terms of two alternative views of the underlying semiotic system. The dyadic view puts the focus on structures of mind. This view leads to a dualistic ontology in which mind and matter tend to be considered as two distinctive systems. The triadic view puts the focus on mind as a means for adapting to the functional demands of situations. This view leads to a monist ontology whereby mind and matter interact as a single system shaping human experience. As a result of Endsley’s model, today the debate is framed in terms of SA.