The Experts below are selected from a list of 207 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Raphael Falk - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Evolutionary Epistemology what phenotype is selected and which genotype evolves
Biology and Philosophy, 1993Co-Authors: Raphael FalkAbstract:In 1941/42 Konrad Lorenz suggested that Kant's transcendental categories ofa priori knowledge could be given an empirical interpretation in Darwinian material Evolutionary terms:A priori propositional knowledge was an ‘organ’ subject to natural selection for adaptation to its specific environments. D. Campbell extended the conception, and termed evolution a process of knowledge. The philosophical problem of what knowledge is became a descriptive one of how knowledge developed, the normative semantic questions have been sidestepped, as if the descriptive insights would automatically resolve them. This came at a time when the traditional concept of knowledge as universally true, justified beliefs had been challenged by subjectivist, intercommunicative coherence frameworks. Much of the literature on Evolutionary Epistemology claimed that knowledge in general, and science as its epitome in particular, evolved along lines analogous to organic biological evolution. I refer here only to the view of knowledge as an extension of material biological evolution. These theories of Evolutionary Epistemology, contrary to the relativist notions of naturalized Epistemology, adopted strict realist positions.
Nathalie Gontier - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Evolutionary Epistemology two research avenues three schools and a single and shared agenda
Journal for General Philosophy of Science, 2021Co-Authors: Nathalie Gontier, Michael BradieAbstract:This special issue for the Journal for General Philosophy of Science is devoted to exploring the impact and many ramifications of current research in Evolutionary Epistemology. Evolutionary Epistemology (EE) is an inter- and multidisciplinary area of research that can be divided into two ever-inclusive research avenues. One research avenue expands on the EEM program and investigates the Epistemology of evolution. The other research avenue builds on the EET program and researches the evolution of Epistemology. Since its conception, EE has developed three schools of thought: adaptationist, non-adaptationist, and applied EE. Although diverse in outlook and theoretical background, these research avenues and schools share the same agenda of understanding how knowledge evolves, and how it relates to the world. In this paper, we first explain wherefrom Evolutionary epistemological schools of thought developed, and then we highlight current debates in EE by briefly reviewing the papers that form part of this special issue.
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introducing universal symbiogenesis
Finds and Results from the Swedish Cyprus Expedition: A Gender Perspective at the Medelhavsmuseet, 2012Co-Authors: Nathalie GontierAbstract:One of Neurath’s ambitions was to increase the uniformity of scientific languages. A modern day attempt to obtain this goal of a uniform scientific language can be found in the field of Evolutionary Epistemology. Evolutionary epistemologists are characterized by their quest for universal formulas of evolution that can explain Evolutionary change in a variety of phenomena. The most known are universal selectionist accounts. The latter are introduced and implemented within philosophy of science and extra-philosophical fields alike. But what about other Evolutionary theories such as symbiogenesis? The process of symbiogenesis need not be confined to either the microcosm or the origin of eukaryotic beings. On the contrary, just as natural selection today is being universalized by Evolutionary biologists and Evolutionary epistemologists, so symbiogenesis can be universalized as well. It will be argued that in its universalized form, symbiogenesis can provide: (1) a general tool to examine various forms of interaction between different biological organisms, and (2) new metaphors for extra-biological fields such as cosmology, the cultural sciences, and language. Furthermore universal symbiogenesis can complement, if not provide an alternative, for universal selectionist accounts of evolution. As such, universal symbiogenesis can provide a scientific language that enables more uniformity between different disciplines.
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Evolutionary Epistemology as a scientific method a new look upon the units and levels of evolution debate
Theory in Biosciences, 2010Co-Authors: Nathalie GontierAbstract:Evolutionary Epistemology can provide a unified scientific methodology that enables scholars to study the evolution of life as well as the evolution of cognition, science, culture and any other phenomenon displayed by living organisms. In this article, three heuristics are provided that allow for a thorough search for the units, levels and mechanisms of evolution. Contrary to previous approaches, units, levels and mechanisms are not identified by pointing out essential features, but rather ostensive definitions are preferred. That is, units are considered as such if a level of evolution and a mechanism of evolution is identifiable. Levels are levels if one can point out units that evolve at that level according to Evolutionary mechanisms, and mechanisms are considered as such if one can point out units and levels where the mechanism is active.
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Evolutionary Epistemology and the origin and evolution of language: Taking symbiogenesis seriously
Evolutionary Epistemology Language and Culture, 2006Co-Authors: Nathalie GontierAbstract:Symbiogenesis is a form of horizontal evolution that occurred 2 billion years ago, with the evolution of eukaryotic cells. It will be argued that, just as we can develop universal selection theories based upon a general account of natural selection, we can also develop a universal symbiogenetic principle that can serve as a general framework to study the origin and evolution of language. (1) Horizontal evolution will be compared with and distinguished from vertical evolution. (2) Different examples of intra- and interspecific horizontal evolution will be given to show that horizontal evolution is quantitatively and qualitatively the most commonly occurring form of evolution throughout the history of life. (3) Finally, three examples are given of how a universal symbiogenesis principle can be implemented in the study of language origins and evolution, more specifically within: (a) the study of language variation, (b) language genes and (c) conceptual blending.
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Evolutionary Epistemology language and culture a non adaptationist systems theoretical approach
2006Co-Authors: Nathalie Gontier, Jean Paul Van Bendegem, Diederik AertsAbstract:Preface by the editors , Acknowledgements,Introduction to Evolutionary Epistemology, language and culture Nathalie Gontier PART 1: Evolutionary Epistemology Evolutionary Epistemology: The nonadaptationist approach, Franz M. Wuketits Like cats and dogs: Radical constructivism and Evolutionary Epistemology,Alexander Riegler The biological boundary conditions for our classical physical world view,Olaf Diettrich Is the real world something more than the world of our experience? Relation between Neodarwinian logic, transcendental philosophy and cognitive sciences,Adrianna Wozniak Universal Darwinism and process essentialism,Derek Turner PART 2: Evolutionary Epistemology and Language Darwinism, traditional linguistics and the new Palaeolithic Continuity Theory of language evolution ,Mario Alinei The extended mind model of the origin of language and culture,Robert K. Logan From changes in the world to changes in the words, Jean-Philippe Mague Evolutionary Epistemology and the origin an evolution of language: taking symbiogenesis seriously, Nathalie Gontier The self-organization of dynamic systems: modularity under scrutiny,Annemarie Peltzer-Karpf PART 3: Evolutionary Epistemology and Culture Against human nature, Tim Ingold Cognition, evolution, and sociality, Eugenia Ramirez-Goicoechea Cultural evolution, the Baldwin effect, and social norms, Jean Lachapelle, Luc Faucher and Pierre Poirier Cultural creativity and Evolutionary flexibility, Kathleen Coessens Some ideas to study the evolution of mathematics, Hugo Mercier PART 4: Evolutionary Epistemology and Modelling Computer modelling as a tool for understanding language evolution,Bart de Boer Simulating the syntax and semantics of linguistic constructions about time, Joachim De Beule Evolutionarygame-theoretic semantics and its foundational status, Ahti-Veikko Pietarinen Towards a quantum Evolutionary scheme: violating Bell's inequalities in language, Diederik Aerts, Marek Czachor and Bart D'Hooghe Author Index , Subject Index
Bill Mckelvey - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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foundations of new social science institutional legitimacy from philosophy complexity science postmodernism and agent based modeling
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2002Co-Authors: Leslie Henrickson, Bill MckelveyAbstract:Since the death of positivism in the 1970s, philosophers have turned their attention to scientific realism, Evolutionary Epistemology, and the Semantic Conception of Theories. Building on these trends, Campbellian Realism allows social scientists to accept real-world phenomena as criterion variables against which theories may be tested without denying the reality of individual interpretation and social construction. The Semantic Conception reduces the importance of axioms, but reaffirms the role of models and experiments. Philosophers now see models as “autonomous agents” that exert independent influence on the development of a science, in addition to theory and data. The inappropriate molding effects of math models on social behavior modeling are noted. Complexity science offers a “new” normal science Epistemology focusing on order creation by self-organizing heterogeneous agents and agent-based models. The more responsible core of postmodernism builds on the idea that agents operate in a constantly changing web of interconnections among other agents. The connectionist agent-based models of complexity science draw on the same conception of social ontology as do postmodernists. These recent developments combine to provide foundations for a “new” social science centered on formal modeling not requiring the mathematical assumptions of agent homogeneity and equilibrium conditions. They give this “new” social science legitimacy in scientific circles that current social science approaches lack.
Cliff Hooker - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Regulatory constructivism: On the relation between Evolutionary Epistemology and Piaget's genetic Epistemology
Biology and Philosophy, 1994Co-Authors: Cliff HookerAbstract:It is argued that fundamental to Piaget's life works is a biologically based naturalism in which the living world is a nested complex of self-regulating, self-organising (constructing) adaptive systems. A structuralist-rationalist overlay on this core position is distinguished and it is shown how it may be excised without significant loss of content or insight. A new and richer conception of the nature of Piaget's genetic Epistemology emerges, one which enjoys rich interrelationships with Evolutionary Epistemology. These are explored and it is shown how a regulatory systems Evolutionary Epistemology may be embedded within genetic Epistemology.
Leslie Henrickson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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foundations of new social science institutional legitimacy from philosophy complexity science postmodernism and agent based modeling
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2002Co-Authors: Leslie Henrickson, Bill MckelveyAbstract:Since the death of positivism in the 1970s, philosophers have turned their attention to scientific realism, Evolutionary Epistemology, and the Semantic Conception of Theories. Building on these trends, Campbellian Realism allows social scientists to accept real-world phenomena as criterion variables against which theories may be tested without denying the reality of individual interpretation and social construction. The Semantic Conception reduces the importance of axioms, but reaffirms the role of models and experiments. Philosophers now see models as “autonomous agents” that exert independent influence on the development of a science, in addition to theory and data. The inappropriate molding effects of math models on social behavior modeling are noted. Complexity science offers a “new” normal science Epistemology focusing on order creation by self-organizing heterogeneous agents and agent-based models. The more responsible core of postmodernism builds on the idea that agents operate in a constantly changing web of interconnections among other agents. The connectionist agent-based models of complexity science draw on the same conception of social ontology as do postmodernists. These recent developments combine to provide foundations for a “new” social science centered on formal modeling not requiring the mathematical assumptions of agent homogeneity and equilibrium conditions. They give this “new” social science legitimacy in scientific circles that current social science approaches lack.
