Annals of the Japan Association for Philosophy of Science
Online ISSN : 1884-1228
Print ISSN : 0453-0691
ISSN-L : 0453-0691
Analyzing 'Evolutionary Functional Analysis' in Evolutionary Psychology
Shunkichi MATSUMOTO
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2008 Volume 16 Issue 1-2 Pages 95-112

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Abstract

The objective of this paper is to analyze the argumentation of evolutionary psychology often referred to as 'evolutionary functional analysis' and to point out some of its inherent problems from a methodological point of view. The conclusion to be drawn is this: although evolutionary functional analysis can be considered to be a scientific practice since it fits into the formula of hypothetico-deductive method, there still remain enormous elements of unfounded speculation in it. This becomes especially evident in the process of identifying the adaptive problems in the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness(EEA) as well as in the presuppositions implicit behind the thesis of the ancient origin of our current mind.

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© 2008 Annals of the Japan Association for Philosophy of Science
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