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Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture pp 1–29Cite as

Introduction to evolutionary epistemology, language and culture

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Part of the book series: Theory and Decision Library A: ((TDLA,volume 39))

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.

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  1. Centre for Logic and Philosophy of Science, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Nathalie Gontier (Research Assistant of the Research Foundation-Flanders (F.W.O.-Vlaanderen)

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  1. Nathalie Gontier
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

    Nathalie Gontier (Research Assistant of the Research Foundation Flanders), Jean Paul Van Bendegem  & Diederik Aerts (Research Assistant of the Research Foundation Flanders),  & 

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Gontier, N. (2006). Introduction to evolutionary epistemology, language and culture. In: Gontier, N., Van Bendegem, J.P., Aerts, D. (eds) Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture. Theory and Decision Library A:, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3395-8_1

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