Innateness in mind / Peter Carruthers

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Carruthers, Peter, 1952- author.

Series:

Cambridge elements. Elements in philosophy of mind

Cambridge elements. Elements in philosophy of mind, 2633-9080

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nativism (Psychology).

Philosophy of mind.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2026

Summary:

"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"-- Cambridge Core

Contents:

The innateness question

Our animal inheritance

A language faculty

A mentalizing faculty

A cultural creature

Evaluative learning

Tribal thinking

Tribal feeling

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references

Online resource; title from PDF title page (Cambridge Core, viewed June 24, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version: Carruthers, Peter, 1952- Innateness in mind

ISBN:

9781009506090

1009506099

9781009506076

1009506072

OCLC:

1579814812

Publisher Number:

CIPO000381710

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license