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Culturally transmitted misbeliefs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2010

Dan Sperber
Dan Sperber
Affiliation:
Institut Jean Nicod, ENS, 75005 Paris, France. dan.sperber@gmail.comwww.dan.sperber.fr
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Abstract

Most human beliefs are acquired through communication, and so are most misbeliefs. Just like the misbeliefs discussed by McKay & Dennett (M&D), culturally transmitted misbeliefs tend to result from limitations rather than malfunctions of the mechanisms that produce them, and few if any can be argued to be adaptations. However, the mechanisms involved, the contents, and the hypothetical adaptive value tend to be specific to the cultural case.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 32 , Issue 6 , December 2009 , pp. 534 - 535
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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