Modularity in Cognition: Framing the Debate

Modularity has been the subject of intense debate in the cognitive sciences for more than 2 decades. In some cases, misunderstandings have impeded conceptual progress. Here the authors identify arguments about modularity that either have been abandoned or were never held by proponents of modular vie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychological review Vol. 113; no. 3; pp. 628 - 647
Main Authors Barrett, H. Clark, Kurzban, Robert
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States American Psychological Association 01.07.2006
Subjects
Biological Evolution
Cognition
Cognitive Processes
Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Structures
Concept Formation
Evolution
Genetics
Humans
Molecular Biology
Persuasive Discourse
Psychological Theory
Schemata (Cognition)
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Summary:Modularity has been the subject of intense debate in the cognitive sciences for more than 2 decades. In some cases, misunderstandings have impeded conceptual progress. Here the authors identify arguments about modularity that either have been abandoned or were never held by proponents of modular views of the mind. The authors review arguments that purport to undermine modularity, with particular attention on cognitive architecture, development, genetics, and evolution. The authors propose that modularity, cleanly defined, provides a useful framework for directing research and resolving debates about individual cognitive systems and the nature of human evolved cognition. Modularity is a fundamental property of living things at every level of organization; it might prove indispensable for understanding the structure of the mind as well.
ISSN:0033-295X
DOI:10.1037/0033-295X.113.3.628