As psychology and philosophy arose as answers to the eternal question of
how the mind works, evolutionary psychology has gained ground over
recent years as a link between cognitive-behavioral and natural-science
theories of the mind. This provocative field has also gathered a wide
range of criticisms, from attributing too much autonomy to the brain to
basing itself on faulty assumptions about our prehistoric past.
Epistemological Dimensions of Evolutionary Psychology reframes its
discipline for the contemporary era, correcting common misconceptions
and mediating between different schools of thought. By focusing on the
nature and limits of knowledge and reasoning--the essence of
epistemology--contributors offer fresh insights at the intersection of
human cognitive abilities as adaptations and our self-perception of
knowledge, including evolutionary perspectives on altruism, depression,
or the phasing out of human sacrifice. This diversity strengthens and
vindicates the field, as evinced by thought-provoking dispatches such
as:
- Toward a cognitive philosophy of science.
- Evolutionary media psychology and its epistemological foundation.
- The "meme" meme revisited.
- Depression as an adaptation.
- Like me: a homophily-based account of human culture.
- Preparedness to learn about the world: evidence from infant research.
An engaging and often controversial testament to the combined power of
evolution and logic, Epistemological Dimensions of Evolutionary
Psychology will intrigue philosophers as well as psychologists in a
variety of subdisciplines.
