Massive Modularity and Brain Evolution
Machery, Edouard (2006) Massive Modularity and Brain Evolution. In [2006] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 20th Biennial Mtg (Vancouver): PSA 2006 Contributed Papers.
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Abstract
Quartz (2002) argues that some recent findings about the evolution of the brain (Finlay & Darlington, 1995) are inconsistent with evolutionary psychologists’ massive modularity hypothesis. In substance, Quartz contends that since the volume of the neocortex evolved in a concerted manner, natural selection did not act on neocortical systems independently of each other, which is a necessary condition for the massive modularity of our cognition to be true. I argue however that Quartz’s argument fails to undermine the massive modularity hypothesis.
| Keywords: | Brain evolution, massive modularity, allometry, evolutionary psychology, neocortex |
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| Subjects: | Specific Sciences: Biology: Evolutionary Psychology |
| Conferences and Volumes: | [2006] Philosophy of Science Assoc. 20th Biennial Mtg (Vancouver): PSA 2006 Contributed Papers |
| ID Code: | 2972 |
| Deposited By: | Machery, Edouard |
| Deposited On: | 13 October 2006 |