T.C. Schneirla Conferences Series – serie

This volume presents current thought and criticism on evolutionary epistemology -- the evolution of knowledge and knowing. As the theme of the fourth T.C. Schneirla Conference held at Wichita State University, evolutionary epistemology was examined from several diverse areas of study including comparative, developmental, physiological, and cultural psychology as well as philosophy. Theories of the Evolution of Knowing addresses alternatives to the genetic determinism inherent in Donald Campbell's concept of genetic epistemology. The concept of integrative levels is shown to offer a parsimonious, non- reductionist approach to the development of "knowing" as a human capacity.

First published in 1984. In this collection of essays, Schneirla is identified as a scientist and citizen unafraid to hold and present unpopular ideas. Schneirla had always been opposed to the hereditarian views that allowed for the politicalization of psychology and spoke out early against the idea of the genetic basis of behavior. It is fitting that his ideas, which still form the nexus of the major theoretical criticism of classical ethology, now can be seen to stand in opposition to the hereditarian views of socio-biology.