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Beyond intuition and instinct blindness: toward an evolutionarily rigorous cognitive science
1Department of Psychology, University of California, Santa Barbara 93106-3210.
Cognition
|April 1, 1994
Summary
Cognitive psychology can become more rigorous by adopting evolutionary theories of adaptive function. This approach moves beyond intuition and folk psychology to explore the mind's evolved problem-solving capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Philosophy of Mind
Background:
- Intuition and folk psychology limit the scope of cognitive psychology research.
- Current research agendas often focus on unrepresentative 'high-level' cognitive problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To advocate for the adoption of evolutionarily rigorous theories in cognitive psychology.
- To propose adaptive function theories as a foundation for cognitive science.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of the role of evolutionary principles in cognitive science.
- Critique of intuition-based research agendas in psychology.
Main Results:
- Evolutionary theories of adaptive function provide a framework for understanding cognitive mechanisms.
- Specifying evolved functions guides the discovery of cognitive mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive psychology requires a shift from folk psychology to evolutionary theory for greater rigor.
- Evolutionary functionalism offers a path to a more comprehensive understanding of the mind.