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The Nativist Approach01:21

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Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

New thinking, innateness and inherited representation.

Nicholas Shea1

  • 1Faculty of Philosophy, University of Oxford, 10 Merton Street, Oxford OX1 4JJ, UK. nicholas.shea@philosophy.ox.ac.uk

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|June 27, 2012
PubMed
Summary

This study challenges evolutionary psychology by critiquing the concept of innate psychological traits. It proposes "inherited representation" as a superior framework for understanding human cognitive evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Cognitive Evolution
  • Human Evolution

Background:

  • Evolutionary Psychology often assumes innate, domain-specific psychological mechanisms.
  • The concept of innateness is problematic for distinguishing between different evolutionary psychology theories.
  • Innateness is ill-suited for analyzing human psychological phenotypes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critique the reliance on innate psychological mechanisms in evolutionary psychology.
  • To propose an alternative theoretical tool for studying human cognitive evolution.
  • To highlight the limitations of the concept of innateness in evolutionary contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of "innateness" in evolutionary psychology.
  • Argumentation for the utility of "inherited representation" as a theoretical concept.
  • Examination of recent human evolution features.

Main Results:

  • The concept of innateness is insufficient for distinguishing theoretical approaches in evolutionary psychology.
  • Recent human evolution suggests limitations in the traditional view of innate traits.
  • "Inherited representation" offers a more effective framework for cognitive evolution.

Conclusions:

  • The traditional concept of innateness is inadequate for understanding human psychological evolution.
  • A shift towards the concept of "inherited representation" is necessary for robust evolutionary psychology.
  • This new framework better accommodates the complexities of human cognitive development and evolution.