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Animal vs. human rationality-cum-conceptuality: a philosophical perspective on developmental psychology

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  • Yakir Levin

    (Ben-Gurion University of the Negev)

  • Itzhak Aharon

    (Jerusalem College of Technology)

Abstract

In this paper, we first extract from Susan Carey’s seminal account of the origin of concepts a notion of rationality, which is (1) applicable to human infants and non-human animals; (2) significantly different from the notions of rationality prevalent in behavioral ecology and yet, like these notions, amenable to empirical testing; (3) conceptually more fundamental than the latter notions. Relatedly, this notion (4) underlies a proto-conceptuality ascribable, by a key component of Carey’s account, to human infants and non-human animals. Based on a Kantian-inspired analysis of fully-fledged conceptuality and the type of rationality underlying it, we then show (1) the profound difference between the type of rationality extracted from Carey’s account and the rationality of human adults; (2) related fundamental differences between the types of conceptual representation that these types of rationality respectively ground. By showing this, we highlight fundamental aspects of conceptual representations that are missing from Carey’s account of the origin of concepts. Based on this, we finally argue that, as ingenious and explanatorily valuable as Carey’s account of the origin of concepts is, it is only a partial account of this origin.

Suggested Citation

  • Yakir Levin & Itzhak Aharon, 2022. "Animal vs. human rationality-cum-conceptuality: a philosophical perspective on developmental psychology," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 21(1), pages 63-88, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:minsoc:v:21:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s11299-022-00285-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11299-022-00285-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Herbert A. Simon, 1955. "A Behavioral Model of Rational Choice," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 69(1), pages 99-118.
    2. Yakir Levin & Itzhak Aharon, 2014. "Emotion, utility maximization, and ecological rationality," Mind & Society: Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences, Springer;Fondazione Rosselli, vol. 13(2), pages 227-245, November.
    3. Robert J. Aumann, 2008. "Rule-Rationality versus Act-Rationality," Discussion Paper Series dp497, The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, the Hebrew University, Jerusalem.
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