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Technical reasoning is important for cumulative technological culture.

François Osiurak1,2, Salomé Lasserre3, Julie Arbanti3

  • 1Laboratoire d'Étude des Mécanismes Cognitifs, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France. francois.osiurak@univ-lyon2.fr.

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Summary

Cumulative technological culture (CTC) arises from both social learning and technical reasoning skills. Our study shows that improving technology also enhances our understanding of it, highlighting the importance of cognitive skills.

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Evolutionary Anthropology
  • Human Behavior

Background:

  • Human technology has expanded globally, raising questions about the cognitive origins of cumulative technological culture (CTC).
  • The dominant view emphasizes social learning, with some theories minimizing the role of non-social cognitive skills in CTC development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interplay between social learning and cognitive skills in the development of cumulative technological culture.
  • To test the hypothesis that technological improvement is independent of understanding.

Main Methods:

  • Partial replication of the Derex et al. (2019) experimental study.
  • Observational analysis of technological system improvement across generations.

Main Results:

  • Technological system improvement over generations was correlated with increased understanding of the system.
  • This suggests that technical-reasoning skills are crucial for acquiring, understanding, and improving technology.

Conclusions:

  • Cumulative technological culture relies on both social learning and non-social cognitive skills, specifically technical reasoning.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of technology is integral to its cumulative improvement.