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

Rescher, Nicholas

9780847676156: A Useful Inheritance: Evolutionary Aspects of the Theory of Knowledge (Studies in Epistemology and Cognitive Theory)

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0847676153 ISBN 13: 9780847676156

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield, 1989

View all copies of this ISBN edition

1 Used

From � 100.45

1 New

From � 191.93

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.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

About the Author

Nicholas Rescher is University Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pittsburgh where he serves as Vice-Chairman of its Center for Philosophy of Science.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.