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EVOLUTION OF THE HUMAN CAPACITY FOR BELIEFS
Author(s) -
Goodenough Ward H.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
zygon®
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.222
H-Index - 23
eISSN - 1467-9744
pISSN - 0591-2385
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9744.1993.tb01016.x
Subject(s) - intentionality , hominidae , relation (database) , action (physics) , human evolution , language evolution , narrative , epistemology , non human , psychology , cognitive science , cognitive psychology , biological evolution , evolutionary biology , computer science , biology , linguistics , philosophy , genetics , physics , quantum mechanics , database
. Evolution of the human capacity for beliefs is considered in relation to the emergence in human phylogeny of the ability to formulate propositions, evaluate their worth as bases for action, and make emotional attachments to them. Most of the relevant capabilities had appeared in primate evolution before the emergence of the Hominidae. The combination of capabilities peculiar to evolving hominines was that involved in the development of language, which ontogenetic evidence suggests began as a tool for implementing intentionality in social interaction and whose subsequent elaboration was associated with later reportorial and narrative uses.