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Darwinian Domain-Generality: The Role of Evolutionary Psychology in the Modularity Debate

Lundie, Michael
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Abstract

Evolutionary Psychology (EP) tends to be associated with a Massively Modular (MM) cognitive architecture. I argue that EP favors a non-MM cognitive architecture. The main point of dispute is whether central cognition, such as abstract reasoning, exhibits domain-general properties. Partisans of EP argue that domain-specific modules govern central cognition, for it is unclear how the cognitive mind could have evolved domain-generality. In response, I defend a distinction between exogenous and endogenous selection pressures, according to which exogenous pressures tend to select for domain-specificity, whereas the latter, endogenous pressures, select in favor of domain-generality. I draw on models from brain network theory to motivate this distinction, and also to establish that a domain-general, non-MM cognitive architecture is the more parsimonious adaptive solution to endogenous pressures.

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2017-05-03
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Research Projects
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Keywords
central cognition, connectome, domain-specific, encapsulated, endogenous selection pressure, exogenous selection pressure, domain-general, hub core, rich club
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