A Useful Inheritance - Evolutionary Aspects of the Theory of Knowledge

The book formulates an evolutionary approach to the theory of knowledge, based on the parallelism between the natural selection of our cognitive capacities and the rational selection of the methodological processes by which we put them to work. The former reflects the biological evolution of homo sapiens, the latter the cultural evolution of homo quaerens through the development of a scientific community of inquirers with its characteristic practices. This dual aspect of cognitive evolution indicates that our human cognitive accomplishments are limited by our particular evolutionary attunement to the world's scheme of things and are bound to reflect the character of our particular evolutionary niche. The resulting doctrinal position is one of a realistic relativism.

About the author

By Nicholas Rescher

Summary

Explores the evolutionary aspects of epistemology by focusing on seven major aspects, since philosophers tend to view evolution from a cultural as well as biological point of view.

Product details

• Authors: Nicholas Rescher
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 18.12.1989
• EAN: 9780847676156
• ISBN: 978-0-8476-7615-6
• Dimensions: 148 mm x 223 mm x 18 mm
• Weight: 372 g
• Series: Studies in Epistemology and Cognitive Theory; Studies in Epistemology and Co; Studies in Epistemology and Cognitive Theory; Studies in Epistemology and Co
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; Evolution, SCIENCE / History, PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, SCIENCE / Life Sciences / Evolution, History of Science, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge, Evolution / Evolutionary biology