Analogies in Scientific Explanations: Concept Formation by Analogies in Cultural Evolutionary Theory

2014 ◽  
pp. 209-226
Author(s):  
Christian J. Feldbacher
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Concept Formation ◽  
Scientific Explanations ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary

Rethinking Cultural Evolutionary Psychology

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 477-492
Author(s):  
Ryan Nichols ◽  
Henrike Moll ◽  
Jacob L. Mackey
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Psychology ◽  
Social Interaction ◽  
Evolutionary Psychology ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Cultural Learning ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Point Of Departure ◽  
Alternative Theories

AbstractThis essay discusses Cecilia Heyes’ groundbreaking new book Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking. Heyes’ point of departure is the claim that current theories of cultural evolution fail adequately to make a place for the mind. Heyes articulates a cognitive psychology of cultural evolution by explaining how eponymous “cognitive gadgets,” such as imitation, mindreading and language, mental technologies, are “tuned” and “assembled” through social interaction and cultural learning. After recapitulating her explanations for the cultural and psychological origins of these gadgets, we turn to criticisms. Among those, we find Heyes’ use of evolutionary theory confusing on several points of importance; alternative theories of cultural evolution, especially those of the Tomasello group and of Boyd, Richerson and Henrich, are misrepresented; the book neglects joint attention and other forms of intersubjectivity in its explanation of the origins of cognitive gadgets; and, whereas Heyes accuses other theories of being “mindblind,” we find her theory ironically other-blind and autistic in character.

scholarly journals The evolution of cultural adaptations: Fijian food taboos protect against dangerous marine toxins

2010 ◽  
Vol 277 (1701) ◽  
pp. 3715-3724 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Henrich ◽  
Natalie Henrich
Keyword(s):  
Social Learning ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Cultural Adaptations ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Food Taboos ◽  
Local Environments ◽  
Fish Poisoning ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary

The application of evolutionary theory to understanding the origins of our species' capacities for social learning has generated key insights into cultural evolution. By focusing on how our psychology has evolved to adaptively extract beliefs and practices by observing others, theorists have hypothesized how social learning can, over generations, give rise to culturally evolved adaptations. While much field research documents the subtle ways in which culturally transmitted beliefs and practices adapt people to their local environments, and much experimental work reveals the predicted patterns of social learning, little research connects real-world adaptive cultural traits to the patterns of transmission predicted by these theories. Addressing this gap, we show how food taboos for pregnant and lactating women in Fiji selectively target the most toxic marine species, effectively reducing a woman's chances of fish poisoning by 30 per cent during pregnancy and 60 per cent during breastfeeding. We further analyse how these taboos are transmitted, showing support for cultural evolutionary models that combine familial transmission with selective learning from locally prestigious individuals. In addition, we explore how particular aspects of human cognitive processes increase the frequency of some non-adaptive taboos. This case demonstrates how evolutionary theory can be deployed to explain both adaptive and non-adaptive behavioural patterns.

scholarly journals Cultural evolutionary theory: How culture evolves and why it matters

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (30) ◽  
pp. 7782-7789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Creanza ◽  
Oren Kolodny ◽  
Marcus W. Feldman
Keyword(s):  
Population Genetics ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Cultural Evolution ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Societal Implications ◽  
Genetic Evolution ◽  
Core Concepts ◽  
Theoretical Population ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary

Human cultural traits—behaviors, ideas, and technologies that can be learned from other individuals—can exhibit complex patterns of transmission and evolution, and researchers have developed theoretical models, both verbal and mathematical, to facilitate our understanding of these patterns. Many of the first quantitative models of cultural evolution were modified from existing concepts in theoretical population genetics because cultural evolution has many parallels with, as well as clear differences from, genetic evolution. Furthermore, cultural and genetic evolution can interact with one another and influence both transmission and selection. This interaction requires theoretical treatments of gene–culture coevolution and dual inheritance, in addition to purely cultural evolution. In addition, cultural evolutionary theory is a natural component of studies in demography, human ecology, and many other disciplines. Here, we review the core concepts in cultural evolutionary theory as they pertain to the extension of biology through culture, focusing on cultural evolutionary applications in population genetics, ecology, and demography. For each of these disciplines, we review the theoretical literature and highlight relevant empirical studies. We also discuss the societal implications of the study of cultural evolution and of the interactions of humans with one another and with their environment.

The (Dis)Unity of Cultural Evolutionary Theory

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 225-231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorenzo Baravalle
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary

scholarly journals Modelling the truth of scientific beliefs with cultural evolutionary theory

Synthese ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 191 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krist Vaesen ◽  
Wybo Houkes
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary

Biological foundations and beneficial effects of trance

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Hove ◽  
Johannes Stelzer
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Cultural Factors ◽  
Altered States ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
Neural Underpinnings ◽  
Cultural Evolutionary

AbstractSingh proposes a cultural evolutionary theory of shamanic practices, including trance. We argue that cultural factors are deeply intertwined with biological aspects in shaping shamanic practices, and the underlying biology is critical. We discuss the neural underpinnings of rhythm-induced trance, how they can facilitate insight, and how altered states can promote healing.

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