Do not burn these gentle bridges: An empirical framework based on the 4E perspective is necessary, pertinent, and timely.

A recent opinion article suggested that the target article, "The holobiont mind: A bridge between 4E cognition and the microbiome", wished to generate a "new theory of mind". Furthermore, it contained ideas that were "unnecessary", "not justified", and "not innovative at all". Furthermore the commentators consider that "the ideas of radical enactivism can properly accommodate this research". Here, we address and clarify apprehensions, misreadings, and misunderstandings raised by the commentators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]