Abstract
Creationism is usually regarded as an irrational set of beliefs. In this paper I propose that the best way to understand why individual learners settle on any mature set of beliefs is to see that as the developmental outcome of a series of “fast and frugal” boundedly rational inferences rather than as a rejection of reason. This applies to those whose views are opposed to science in general. A bounded rationality model of belief choices both serves to explain the fact that folk traditions tend to converge on “anti-modernity”, and to act as a default hypothesis, deviations from which we can use to identify other, arational, influences such as social psychological, economic and individual dispositions. I propose some educational and public policy strategies that might decrease the proportion of learners who find creationism and anti-science in general a rational choice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Festinger L. (1957) A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA
Gärdenfors P. (2000) Conceptual spaces: The geometry of thought, Vol. x (p. 307). MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Gigerenzer G. (2000) Adaptive thinking: Rationality in the real world, Vol. xi (p. 344). Oxford University Press, New York
Gigerenzer G., Goldstein D.G. (1996) Reasoning the fast and frugal way: Models of bounded rationality. Psychological Review 103: 650–669
Gigerenzer G., Selten R. (2001) Bounded rationality: The adaptive toolbox, Vol xv (p. 377). MIT Press, Cambridge, MA
Gigerenzer, G., Todd, P. M., & the ABC Research Group. (1999). Simple heuristics that make us smart, Vol. xv (p. 416). New York: Oxford University Press.
Johnson P.E. (1995) Reason in the balance: The case against naturalism in science, law & education (p. 245). InterVarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL
Libet B. (1985) Unconscious cerebral initiative and the role of conscious will in voluntary action. Behavioral and brain sciences 8: 529–566
Libet B. (2002) Do we have free will?. Journal of Consciousness Studies 6: 47–57
Lombrozo T., Shtulman A., Weisberg M. (2006) The intelligent design controversy: Lessons from psychology and education. Trends in Cognitive Sciences 10: 56–57
Plantinga A. (1996) Science: Augustian or Duhemian? Faith and Philosophy 13: 368–394
Quine W.V.O. (1969) Ontological relativity and other essays. Columbia University Press, New York
Richerson P.J., Boyd R. (2005) Not by genes alone: How culture transformed human evolution, Vol. ix (p. 332). University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Simon H.A. (1978) Rationality as Process and as Product of Thought. American Economic Review 68: 1–16
Simon H.A. (1986) Theories of bounded rationality. In: McGuire C.B., Radner R. (eds) Decision and organization. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, pp 161–176
Simon H.A. (1990) Invariants of human behavior. Annual Review of Psychology 41: 1–20
Verhey S.D. (2005) The effect of engaging prior learning on student attitudes toward creationism and evolution. BioScience 55: 996–1003
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wilkins, J.S. Are creationists rational?. Synthese 178, 207–218 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9544-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-009-9544-6