Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Like cats and dogs: Radical constructivism and evolutionary epistemology

  • Chapter
Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture

Part of the book series: Theory and Decision Library A: ((TDLA,volume 39))

Abstract

I identify two similarities between evolutionary epistemology (EE) and radical constructivism (RC): (1) They were founded primarily by biologists and (2) their respective claims can be related to Kant. Despite this fact there seems to be an abyss between them. I present an attempt to reconcile this gap and characterize EE as the approach that focuses on external behaviour, while RC emphasizes the perspective from within. The central concept of hypothetical realism is criticized as unnecessarily narrowing down the scope of EE. Finally, methodological and philosophical conclusions are drawn.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Bettoni, M.C. 1997. “Constructivist foundations of modeling: A Kantian perspective.” International Journal of Intelligent Systems 12: 577–595.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradie, M. 1986. “Assessing evolutionary epistemology.” Biology and Philosophy 1: 401–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braitenberg, V. 1984. Vehicles: Experiments in synthetic psychology. Cambridge: Massachussetts Institute of Technology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunswick, E. 1955. “‘Ratiomorphic’ models of perception and thinking.” Acta Psychologica 11: 108–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, D.T. 1974. “Evolutionary epistemology.” In: Schlipp, P.A. (ed.), The philosophy of Karl Popper 413–463. La Salle: Open Court.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engels, E.-M. 1989. Erkenntnis als Anpassung? Eine Studie zur Evolutionären Erkenntnistheorie. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engels, E.-M. 1999. “Erkenntnistheoretische Konsequenzen biologischer Theorien.” In: Kubli, E.; and Reichardt, A.K. (eds.), Konsequenzen der Biologie: Die moderne Biologie und das Verhältnis zwischen Natur-und Geisteswissenschaften 51–67. Stuttgart: Klett.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feynman, R. 1985. Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman! New York: W. W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foerster, H. von. 1970. “Molecular ethology, an immodest proposal for semantic clarification.” In: Ungar, G. (ed.), Molecular mechanisms in memory and learning 213–248. New York: Plenum Press. [Reprinted in: Foerster, H. von. 1981. Observing systems 149–188. Seaside: Intersystems Publications].

    Google Scholar 

  • Foerster, H. von. 1972. “Perception of the future and the future of perception.” Instructional Science 1(1): 31–43. [Reprinted in: Foerster, H. von. 2003. Understanding understanding 199–210. New York: Springer].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foerster, H. von. 1973. “On constructing a reality.” In: Preiser, W.F.E. (ed.), Environmental design research, Vol. 2 35–46. Stroudberg: Dowden, Hutchinson and Ross. [Reprinted in: Foerster, H. von. 2003. Understanding understanding 211–228. New York: Springer].

    Google Scholar 

  • Foerster, H. von. (ed.). 1974. Cybernetics of cybernetics, or the control of control and the communication of communication. Illinois: University of Illinois. [Republished in 1995 by Future Systems in Minneapolis].

    Google Scholar 

  • Foerster, H. von. 1984. Observing systems, 2nd Ed. Seaside: Intersystems Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gabora, L. 2000. “Conceptual closure: Weaving memories into an interconnected worldview.” In: Van de Vijver, G.; and Chandler, J. (eds.), Closure: Emergent organizations and their dynamics 42–53. New York: New York Academy of Sciences.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glasersfeld, E. von. 1985. “Konstruktion der Wirklichkeit und des Begriffs der Objektivität.” In: Gumin, H.; and Mohler, A. (eds.), Einführung in den Konstruktivismus 1–26. Munich: Oldenbourg.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glasersfeld, E. von. 1989. “Constructivism in Education.” In: Husen, T.; and Postlethwaite, T.N. (eds.), The International Encyclopedia of Education, Supplement Vol. 1 162–163. Oxford/New York: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glasersfeld, E. von. 1995. Radical constructivism: A way of knowing and learning. London: Falmer Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heschl, A. 1990. “L = C. A simple equation with astonishing consequences.” Journal of Theoretical Biology 145: 13–40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kant, I. 1781. Kritikder reinenVernunft [Vorrede zur zweiten Ausgabe] 21–25. Leipzig: Reclamjun. 1781. English: Critique of Pure Reason.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kokinov, B. 1997. “A dynamic theory of implicit context.” In: Proceedings of the 2nd European conference on cognitive science. Manchester, UK.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lettvin, J.Y.; Maturana, H.R.; McCulloch, W.S.; and Pitts, W.H. 1959. “What the frog’s eye tells the frog’s brain.” Proceedings of the IRE 47: 1940–1951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Llinás, R.R. 2001. I of the vortex. Cambridge: Massachussetts Institute of Technology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, K.Z. 1941. “Kants Lehre vomApriorischen im Lichte gegenwärtiger Biologie.” Blätter fur Deutsche Philosophie 15: 94–125. [English: Lorenz, K.Z. 1982. “Kant’s doctrine of the a priori in the light of contemporary biology.” In: Plotkin, H.C. (ed.), Learning, development and culture 121–143. Chichester: John Wiley].

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, K.Z. 1973. Die Rückseite des Spiegels. Munich: Piper. [English: Lorenz, K.Z. 1977. Behind the mirror: A search for a natural history of human knowledge. London: Methuen].

    Google Scholar 

  • Lorenz, K.Z.; and Tinbergen, N. 1939. “Taxis und Instinkthandlung in der Eirollbewegung der Graugans.” Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 2: 1–29. [Reprinted in: Lorenz, K.Z. 1992. Über tierisches und menschliches Verhalten. Gesammelte Abhandlungen I 343–401. München: Piper].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maturana, H.R. 1970. “Biology of cognition.” BCL Report 9.0. Illinois: University of Illinois. [Reprinted in: Maturana, H.R.; and Varela, F.J. 1980. Autopoiesis and Cognition 5–58. Dordrecht: D. Reidel].

    Google Scholar 

  • Maturana, H.R. 1974. “Cognitive strategies.” In: Foerster, H. von. (ed.), Cybernetics of cybernetics. Illinois: University of Illinois, Biological Computer Laboratory. [Republished in 1995].

    Google Scholar 

  • Maturana, H.R. 1978. “Biology of language: The epistemology of reality.” In: Miller, G.A.; and Lenneberg, E. (eds.), Psychology and biology of language and thought: Essays in honor of Eric Lenneberg 27–63. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maturana, H.R. 1988. “Reality: The search for objectivity or the quest for a compelling argument.” The Irish Journal of Psychology 9: 25–82.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maturana, H.R.; Uribe, G.; and Frenk, S. 1968. “A biological theory of relativistic colour coding in the primate retina: A discussion of nervous system closure with reference to certain visual effects.” Archiva de Biologia y Medicina Experimentales [Suplemento Vol. 1] 1–30. [Reprinted in German translation in Maturana, H.R. 1982. Erkennen 88–137. Braunschweig: Vieweg].

    Google Scholar 

  • Maturana, H.R.; and Varela, F.J. 1980. Autopoiesis and cognition: The realization of the living. Boston, Dordrecht: Reidel.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, J.W. 2003. “Algorithmic randomness in empirical data.” Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science 34: 633–646.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitterer, J. 2001. Die Flucht aus der Beliebigkeit. Frankurt: Fischer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muller, A. 2000. “Eine kurze Geschichte des BCL.” Österreichische Zeitschrift für Geschichtswissenschaften 11(1): 9–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagel, T. 1974. “What is it like to be a bat?” Philosophical Review 83: 435–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oeser, E. 1987. Psychozoikum. Evolution und Mechanismus der menschlichen Erkenntnisfähigkeit. Hamburg: Parey.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Regan, J.K.; and Noë, A. 2001. “What it is like to see: A sensorimotor theory of perceptual experience.” Synthese 129: 79–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piaget, J. 1937. La construction du réel chez l’enfant. Neuchâtel: Délachaux and Niestlé. [English translation: Piaget, J. 1954. The construction of reality in the child. New York: Ballantine].

    Google Scholar 

  • Pias, C. (ed.). 2003. Cybernetics-Kybernetik: The Macy-Conferences 1946–1953. Zurich: Diphanes.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popper, K.R. 1963. Conjectures and refutations. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pörksen, B. 2004. The certainty of uncertainty. Exeter: Imprint. [German original appeared in 2001].

    Google Scholar 

  • Porr, B.; and Wörgötter, F. 2005. “Inside embodiment: What means embodiment to radical constructivists?” Kybernetes 34: 106–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedl, R. 1979. Biologie der Erkenntnis. Die stammesgeschichtlichen Grundlagen der Vernunft. Hamburg: Parey. [English: Riedl, R. 1984. Biology of knowledge: The evolutionary basis of reason. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons].

    Google Scholar 

  • Riedl, R.; Ackermann, G.; and Huber, L. 1992. “A ratiomorphic problem solving strategy.” Evolution and Cognition [old series] 2: 23–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riegler, A. 1994. “Constructivist artificial life: The constructivist-anticipatory principle and functional coupling.” In: Hopf, J. (ed.), Workshop on genetic algorithms within the framework of evolutionary computation 73–83. Max-Planck-Institute Report No. MPI-I-94-241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riegler, A. 2001a. “The cognitive ratchet. The ratchet effect as a fundamental principle in evolution and cognition.” Cybernetics and Systems 32: 411–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riegler, A. 2001b. “Towards a radical constructivist understanding of science.” Foundations of Science, special issue on “The Impact of Radical Constructivism on Science” 6: 1–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riegler, A. 2002. “When is a cognitive system embodied?” Cognitive Systems Research, special issue on “Situated and embodied cognition” 3: 339–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riegler, A. 2005. “Constructive memory.” Kybernetes 34: 89–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riegler, A.; Peschl, M.; and Stein, A. von. (eds.). 1999. Understanding representation in the cognitive sciences. New York: Kluwer Academic, Plenum Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roth, G. 1994. Das Gehirn und seine Wirklichkeit. Frankfurt: Suhrkamp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, B. 1912. The problems of philosophy. London: Williams and Norgate.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sacks, O. 1995. An anthropologist on Mars. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simcock, G.; and Hayne, H. 2002. “Breaking the barrier? Children fail to translate their preverbal memories into language.” Psychological Science 13(3): 225–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson, G.G. 1963. The view of life. New York: Harcourt, Brace and World.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjölander, S. 1993. “Some cognitive breakthroughs in the evolution of cognition and consciousness, and their impact on the biology of language.” Evolution and Cognition [old series] 3:3–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sjölander, S. 1997. “On the evolution of reality: Some biological prerequisites and evolutionary stages.” Journal of Theoretical Biology 187: 595–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J. 1991. “Life = cognition: The epistemological and ontological significance of artificial life.” In: Varela, F.J.; and Bourgine, P. (eds.), Toward a practice of autonomous systems. Cambridge: Massachussetts Institute of Technology Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stewart, J. 1996. “Cognition = life: Implications for higher-level cognition.” Behavioural Processes 35: 311–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vollmer, G. 1987. Evolutionäre Erkenntnistheorie, 4th Ed. Stuttgart: Hirzel. [Originally published in 1975].

    Google Scholar 

  • Watzlawick, P.; Weakland, J.; and Fisch, R. 1974. Change: Principles of problem formation and problem resolution. New York: W. W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winograd, T.; and Flores, F. 1986. Understanding computers and cognition: A new foundation for design. Norwood: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wuketits, F.M. 1984. “Evolutionary epistemology: A challenge to science and philosophy.” In: Wuketits, F.M. (ed.), Concepts and approaches in evolutionary epistemology 1–29. Dordrecht: Reidel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wuketits, F.M. 1991. “Evolution and cognition. Paradigms, perspectives, problems.” Evolution and Cognition 1: 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wuketits, F.M. 1992. “Adaptation, representation, construction: An issue in evolutionary epistemology.” Evolution and Cognition 2: 151–162.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center Leo Apostel for Interdisciplinary Research, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium

    Alexander Riegler

Authors
  1. Alexander Riegler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium

    Nathalie Gontier (Research Assistant of the Research Foundation Flanders), Jean Paul Van Bendegem  & Diederik Aerts (Research Assistant of the Research Foundation Flanders),  & 

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2006 Springer

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Riegler, A. (2006). Like cats and dogs: Radical constructivism and evolutionary epistemology. In: Gontier, N., Van Bendegem, J.P., Aerts, D. (eds) Evolutionary Epistemology, Language and Culture. Theory and Decision Library A:, vol 39. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3395-8_3

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation