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Superstitions, ideologies, and religions, too

Superstitions, ideologies, and religions, too. Konrad Talmont -Kaminski Marie Curie- Sklodowska University. Main Project. Superstitions as a natural, cognitive phenomenon Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research Couldn’t avoid religion. Plan. Boyer vs. Wilson

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Superstitions, ideologies, and religions, too

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  1. Superstitions, ideologies, and religions, too KonradTalmont-Kaminski Marie Curie-Sklodowska University

  2. Main Project • Superstitions as a natural, cognitive phenomenon • Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research • Couldn’t avoid religion

  3. Plan • Boyer vs. Wilson • Supernatural by-products • Ideologies as adaptations • Religion as supernatural ideology • Utility of untestability • The ‘perfect’ religion

  4. Contradictory, conflicting or complimentary Pascal Boyer et all David Sloan Wilson • Cognitive by-product • HADD • Genetic evolution • Tribal religions • Causes of beliefs • Problem • Distinguishing religion from other ‘supernatural’ beliefs • Group adaptation • Jain mystics • Cultural evolution • The ‘great’ religions • Functions of practices • Problem • Distinguishing religion from other ‘ideologies’

  5. Supernatural as by-product • “Cognitive science of the supernatural” • Religions • Superstitions • Etc. • Genetic evolution of cognitive factors determining supernatural beliefs • But, there is a problem...

  6. Superstitions unstable • Content of supernatural beliefs underdetermined by cognitive factors • Many possible beliefs are minimally counterintuitive! • Superstitions unstable • Most widespread superstitions no older than 150 years • Most superstitions probably individual • Stable supernatural beliefs will dominate

  7. Ideologies as adaptations • Group adaptation account of ideology • Religions • Political ideologies • Etc. • Cultural evolution of belief systems • But, there is a problem...

  8. Ideologies unstable • Difficult to maintain people’s adherence to an ideology over time • Probably because of failure to deliver on promises • Ideologies highly unstable • Stable ideologies will dominate

  9. Combining the accounts Untestability Ideology Supernatural Group selection Cognitive by-product

  10. Supernatural ideology • Cultural phenomena exapt/recruit cognitive mechanisms • Mutual support • Supernatural beliefs plausible • Help to motivate ideology • Help to motivate practices • Ideology functional • Makes beliefs functional and thereby less likely to undergo cultural drift

  11. Practical untestability • The ‘boy who cried wolf’ problem (McKay & Dennett 2009 forthcoming) • Beliefs that run counter to evidence are unstable • Protecting beliefs from counterevidence (Talmont-Kaminski 2009 forthcoming) • Content • Invisible ghosts • Social context • Items/beliefs too sacred to investigate • Methodological context • Lack of scientific means to investigate

  12. Utility of untestability • Popularity of practically untestable claims • Not dependent upon their truth • Dependent upon a priori plausibility • Cognitive by-products • Traditional metaphysics! • Dependent upon function • Group adaptation • ‘Superempirical’ beliefs best suited to have functions independent of their truth

  13. Intelligently designed religion • Supernatural beliefs plausible thanks to cognitive by-products • Motivated practices support in-group cooperation • Content of claims/promises hard to investigate • Religion deemed sacred to protect against investigation • Scientific development opposed to protect against investigation

  14. Thank you konrad@talmont.com http:/deisidaimon.wordpress.com

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