Book contents
- Numerical Cognition and the Epistemology of Arithmetic
- Numerical Cognition and the Epistemology of Arithmetic
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I Ontogeny
- Part II Phylogeny and History
- Chapter 4 The Phylogeny and Cultural History of Number Concepts
- Chapter 5 The Development of Arithmetic
- Chapter 6 Cumulative Cultural Evolution
- Part III Epistemology and Ontology
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 6 - Cumulative Cultural Evolution
from Part II - Phylogeny and History
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2024
- Numerical Cognition and the Epistemology of Arithmetic
- Numerical Cognition and the Epistemology of Arithmetic
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Preface
- Introduction
- Part I Ontogeny
- Part II Phylogeny and History
- Chapter 4 The Phylogeny and Cultural History of Number Concepts
- Chapter 5 The Development of Arithmetic
- Chapter 6 Cumulative Cultural Evolution
- Part III Epistemology and Ontology
- Conclusion
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
In Chapter 6, I discuss the way knowledge and skills evolve culturally. Starting from the notion of cumulative cultural evolution, I show how the emergence of arithmetical knowledge and skills can be understood as the product of trans-generational cultural evolution. Cumulative cultural evolution, however, requires a particular type of social learning, called cultural learning in the literature. To make sense of this problematic notion, I propose the non-circular characterisation of cultural learning as learning that takes place through processes of passing information that are clearer, less ambiguous and more enduring than other forms of social learning. I also present an account of how innovation of new contents is possible in the framework of cultural learning and cumulative cultural evolution. Finally, I evaluate the five predictions made in Chapter 3 from the perspective of phylogeny and cultural history.
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- Numerical Cognition and the Epistemology of Arithmetic , pp. 138 - 156Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024