A Useful Inheritance: Evolutionary Aspects of the Theory of Knowledge (Studies in Epistemology and Cognitive Theory)

by Nicholas Rescher

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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.
  • ISBN10 0847676153
  • ISBN13 9780847676156
  • Publish Date 18 February 1990
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country US
  • Imprint Rowman & Littlefield
  • Format Hardcover
  • Pages 144
  • Language English