Abstract
Evolutionary epistemology (EE) is about developing a normative framework, based upon evolutionary
thinking, that can explain all of an organism's phylogenetic and ontogenetic evolution.
(1) EE is sketched as an inter- and transdisciplinary field that evolved out of naturalized epistemology
as a reaction against logical empiricism and sociology of knowledge. (2) Different
schools of evolutionary epistemological thinking are examined and compared. (3) It is argued
that within EE today, the search for a normative evolutionary framework is narrowed down
to the development of a framework based upon Neo-Darwinian theory. Because of this, other
evolutionary theories that are very useful to explain certain phenomena are neglected. (4) These
theories are briefly discussed. (5) It is shown how EE can be implemented in the scientific study
of language and culture.
thinking, that can explain all of an organism's phylogenetic and ontogenetic evolution.
(1) EE is sketched as an inter- and transdisciplinary field that evolved out of naturalized epistemology
as a reaction against logical empiricism and sociology of knowledge. (2) Different
schools of evolutionary epistemological thinking are examined and compared. (3) It is argued
that within EE today, the search for a normative evolutionary framework is narrowed down
to the development of a framework based upon Neo-Darwinian theory. Because of this, other
evolutionary theories that are very useful to explain certain phenomena are neglected. (4) These
theories are briefly discussed. (5) It is shown how EE can be implemented in the scientific study
of language and culture.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture. A non-adaptationist, systems theoretical approach |
| Editors | Nathalie Gontier, Jean Paul Van Bendegem, Diederik Aerts |
| Publisher | Springer, Dordrecht |
| Pages | 1-29 |
| Number of pages | 493 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-1-4020-3394-0 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Bibliographical note
Gontier, N., Van Bendegem, J. and Aerts, D. (eds), Evolutionary epistemology, language and culture, pp. 1-29. Springer, Dordrecht (The Netherlands). [Theory and Decision Library, Series A, 39.]Series editor: Nathalie Gontier, Jean Paul Van Bendegem, Diederik Aerts
Keywords
- evolutionary epistemology
- language
- culture