The Evolution of Reason: Logic as a Branch of Biology

William S. Cooper

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511612848

The formal systems of logic have ordinarily been regarded as independent of biology, but recent developments in evolutionary theory suggest that biology and logic may be intimately interrelated. In this book, William Cooper outlines a theory of rationality in which logical law emerges as an intrinsic aspect of evolutionary biology. This biological perspective on logic, though at present unorthodox, could change traditional ideas about the reasoning process. Cooper examines the connections between logic and evolutionary biology and illustrates how logical rules are derived directly from evolutionary principles, and therefore have no independent status of their own. Laws of decision theory, utility theory, induction, and deduction are reinterpreted as natural consequences of evolutionary processes. Cooper's connection of logical law to evolutionary theory ultimately results in a unified foundation for an evolutionary science of reason. It will be of interest to professionals and students of philosophy of science, logic, evolutionary theory, and cognitive science.

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi
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Contents
pp vii-viii
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Foreword
pp ix-x
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1 - The Biology of Logic
pp 1-18
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2 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Life-History Strategy Theory
pp 19-42
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3 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Decision Logic
pp 43-68
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4 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Inductive Logic (Part I)
pp 69-89
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5 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Deductive Logic
pp 90-108
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6 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Inductive Logic (Part II)
pp 109-124
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7 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Mathematics
pp 125-135
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8 - Broadening the Evolutionary Foundation of Classical Logic
pp 136-145
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9 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Nonclassical Logics
pp 146-172
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10 - Radical Reductionism in Logic
pp 173-190
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11 - Toward a Unified Science of Reason
pp 191-202
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Appendix: Formal Theory
pp 203-216
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References
pp 217-222
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Index
pp 223-226
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The Evolution of Reason

Logic as a Branch of Biology

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Contents

Frontmatter
pp i-vi

Contents
pp vii-viii

Foreword
pp ix-x

1 - The Biology of Logic
pp 1-18

2 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Life-History Strategy Theory
pp 19-42

3 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Decision Logic
pp 43-68

4 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Inductive Logic (Part I)
pp 69-89

5 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Deductive Logic
pp 90-108

6 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Inductive Logic (Part II)
pp 109-124

7 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Mathematics
pp 125-135

8 - Broadening the Evolutionary Foundation of Classical Logic
pp 136-145

9 - The Evolutionary Derivation of Nonclassical Logics
pp 146-172

10 - Radical Reductionism in Logic
pp 173-190

11 - Toward a Unified Science of Reason
pp 191-202

Appendix: Formal Theory
pp 203-216

References
pp 217-222

Index
pp 223-226

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The Evolution of Reason

Logic as a Branch of Biology

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