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Our Best Shot at Truth: Why Humans Evolved Mathematical Abilities

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Essential Building Blocks of Human Nature

Part of the book series: The Frontiers Collection ((FRONTCOLL))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the evolutionary origins of the mathematical abilities of modern humans. I begin by analyzing what is actually meant by mathematical abilities and how they can be approached by considering a brain that is organized in a largely modular way. Emphasis is given to the analysis of the ontogenetic and phylogenetic development stages of the individual mathematical abilities. These individual aspects are then examined in more detail with regard to their evolutionary origins, discussing the question of whether or not they also possess an evolutionary function. Four hypotheses will be advocated. The first is that number sense is a module in human and animal brains which has the evolutionary function of being able to approximately grasp and process the quantity of elements in a given set. The second claims that the processing of quantities in symbolic form is a byproduct of a cognitive adaptation, the understanding of symbols. Thirdly, mathematical thinking in terms of relations is a byproduct of complex social thinking. Fourthly, there is no direct linear line of development in either the ontogenetic or the phylogenetic development of the mathematical abilities of modern humans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Giessen, Zentrum für Philosophie und Grundlagen der Wissenschaft, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10C, 35394, Giessen, Germany

    Niklas Krebs

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  1. Niklas Krebs
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Correspondence to Niklas Krebs .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Philosophy and Foundations of Science, University of Giessen, Otto-Behaghel-Str. 10, 35394, Giessen, Germany

    Ulrich J. Frey , Charlotte Störmer  & Kai P. Willführ ,  & 

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Krebs, N. (2011). Our Best Shot at Truth: Why Humans Evolved Mathematical Abilities. In: Frey, U.J., Störmer, C., Willführ, K.P. (eds) Essential Building Blocks of Human Nature. The Frontiers Collection. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-13968-0_8

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