Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T04:35:54.194Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Relations between innate endowments, cognitive development, domain specificity, and a taxonomy-creator

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1998

Adee Matan
Affiliation:
Unit of Human Development and Education, School of Education, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 [email protected]@ccsg.tau.ac.il
Sidney Strauss
Affiliation:
Unit of Human Development and Education, School of Education, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978 [email protected]@ccsg.tau.ac.il

Abstract

Atran proposes that humans have a unique, innate, domain-specific tendency to create taxonomies of biological kinds. We show that: (1) in ontogenesis, children develop a notion Atran claims to be innate; (2) what Atran claims is unique to biological kinds may be found in artifact kinds; and (3) although Atran proposes a domain-specific mental construct for biological rank, it can be explained in domain- general terms.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)