Innateness in Mind by Peter Carruthers

Innateness in Mind by Peter Carruthers

This Element focuses on contemporary forms of nativism (belief in innateness), which mostly concern the existence of domain-specific learning mechanisms with innate structure and content. After sketching some innate capacities that are widely believed to be shared with other animals, the Element thereafter discusses a number of (alleged) distinctively-human ones. One concerns a faculty of language, another our capacity for representing the mental states of others (and derivatively, ourselves). It then turns to discuss some proposed innate adaptations that support culture. These include a number of learning biases, as well as affective learning mechanisms that enable swift acquisition of cultural values. The final two sections then discuss 'tribal psychology.' This may include an innate disposition to stereotype social groups as well as innate 'tribal' motivations (both positive and negative). The over-arching thesis of the Element is that human nature might best be thought of as culture-enabling nature.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781009506045
ISBN 10	1009506048
Title	Innateness in Mind
Author	Peter Carruthers
Series	Elements In Philosophy Of Mind
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Year published	2026-07-31
Number of pages	75
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.