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Related Experiment Videos

Morgan's canon is not evidence.

Steven Samuel1, Nicola Clayton1

  • 1Department of Psychology,University of Cambridge,Cambridge CB2 3EB,United Kingdom.ss2391@cam.ac.uknsc22@cam.ac.uk.

The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|January 23, 2018
PubMed
Summary

Mahr & Csibra

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Comparative Psychology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • The communicative function of episodic memory is debated.
  • Mahr & Csibra's account emphasizes episodic memory's role in human communication.
  • Existing arguments against nonhuman episodic memory are central to their theory.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate Mahr & Csibra's theory on the communicative function of episodic memory.
  • To assess the reliance of their theory on arguments against nonhuman episodic memory.
  • To question the applicability of Morgan's canon to human-specific traits.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis of Mahr & Csibra's account.
  • Examination of arguments concerning episodic memory in nonhuman animals.
  • Critique of the use of Morgan's canon in evolutionary psychology.

Main Results:

  • Mahr & Csibra's theory is more dependent on the negation of nonhuman episodic memory than acknowledged.
  • The communicative function of episodic memory is likely accurate for humans.
  • Morgan's canon may not be appropriate for theorizing human-specific cognitive traits.

Conclusions:

  • The foundation of Mahr & Csibra's theory requires re-evaluation.
  • Further consideration is needed regarding the criteria for human-specific cognitive abilities.
  • Alternative frameworks may be necessary to understand the evolution of human memory and communication.

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