27 November 2007
Philosophy of Biological
and Cognitive Sciences
Matteo Mameli and
David Papineau
Tuesdays 12-1.30 Lecture Room KCL Dept of
Philosophy
KCL/LSE MSc in PHS
The
1. The
2. Interesting because it promises to explain so-called
‘irreducible complexity’ (esp
complex cognitive traits).
3. Social learning certainly looks as if it
creates conditions for Baldwiniziation.
4. Is genetic control more advantageous
than learning?
5. How should we understand ‘innate’ here?
6. How can prior learning matter? Godfrey-Smith.
(1) Breathing spaces
(2) Genetic assimilation
(3) Niche construction
7. Genetic assimilation. Various components, together necessary for
adaptive phenotype, each gradually brought under genetic control because others
are being learned. Hinton
and Nowland simulation (cf
Waddington.)
8. ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’ as a case of
niche construction.
9. Social learning as a better case of niche construction
(as well as of genetic assimilation). It
helps genetic assimilation, by making the complex behaviour easier to learn
(only one individual needs to light on it).
10. Different kinds of social learning: stimulus
enhancement, goal emulation, blind mimicry, explicit appreciation of means to
ends. Note how the first two won’t
transmit adaptive complexity, and the third won’t transmit only adaptive behaviours.
11. Good social learners are more likely to
display complex innate behaviours.
Bateson, "The Active Role of Behaviour in Evolution" Biology and Philosophy 19, 283-298
Papineau, “Social Leaning and the Baldwin Effect” at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ip/davidpapineau/Staff/Papineau/OnlinePapers/SocLearnBald.htm
Papineau “The Cultural Origins of Cognitive Adapatations” at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/ip/davidpapineau/Staff/Papineau/OnlinePapers/CultOrCogAdptns.htm
Boyd & Richerson Not by Genes Alone ch 6 “Culture & genes coevolve”
Godfrey-Smith 'Between Baldwin Skepticism & Baldwin Boosterism' in Weber & Depew, eds, Evolution & Learning
Dennett, "The
There is a short review of the Weber/Depew book here http://human-nature.com/ep/downloads/ep02105107.pdf
Watkins "A Note on the