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Evolutionsmodelle in der Erklärung menschlicher Denkstrukturen im 19. Jahrhundert
Author(s) -
Wuketits Franz M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
berichte zur wissenschaftsgeschichte
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.109
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1522-2365
pISSN - 0170-6233
DOI - 10.1002/bewi.19830060112
Subject(s) - darwin (adl) , evolutionary epistemology , psychic , evolutionary theory , epistemology , evolutionary psychology , philosophy , natural selection , evolutionary neuroscience , philosophy of science , order (exchange) , modern evolutionary synthesis , selection (genetic algorithm) , evolutionary ecology , computer science , biology , artificial intelligence , ecology , medicine , pathology , finance , economics , alternative medicine , software engineering , host (biology)
Since the 19th century the theory of evolution has been the guide not only of biological research, but of the explanation of man's psychic and mental abilities, too. In particular Herbert Spencer's and Charles Darwin's works gave rise to an evolutionary view of human mind (evolutionary psychology). This view was generalized to the explanation of epistemic structures like science and was adopted by many philosophers and scientists, e. g. Boltzmann, Mach, and others. Under the influence of Darwin's theory of natural selection a selective elimination model was established in order to explain epistemic activities. Thus, in the 19th century we find expressed the basic ideas of today's evolutionary epistemology. The modern evolutionary theory of (human) knowledge therefore turns out to be the more precise and elaborated formulation of the fundamental postulates of an evolutionary psychology.