The cognitive ratchet. The ratchet effect as a fundamental principle in evolution and cognition (2001)
Alexander Riegler
Cybernetics and Systems 32 (3-4): 411-427
Is the evolution and performance of cognition an asymmetric, directed process? The standard externalist definition of evolution as a mechanism of variation and selection cannot account for directed developments such as an increase in complexity of cognition. A separate cause which is responsible for complexification requires us to deviate from the usual description of cognition as ahistorical logical problem-solving: the anticipation-driven nature of behavior, and hence cognition based on a ratchet effect. On a structural level it is evident that the growth of behavioral competence, similar to biological structures, must build on previously available components, thus yielding a canalization of development. This unavoidably introduces asymmetry in the cognitive evolution. Numerous examples show the relevance of the proposed mechanisms in biology, psychology, and the artificial sciences.
@article{Riegler14,
author = {Riegler A.},
title = {The cognitive ratchet. The ratchet effect as a fundamental principle in evolution and cognition},
year = {2001},
URL = {https://constructivist.info/riegler/14},
journal = {Cybernetics and Systems},
volume = {32},
number = {3--4},
pages = {411--427}
}
%0 Journal Article
%A Riegler A.
%T The cognitive ratchet. The ratchet effect as a fundamental principle in evolution and cognition
%D 2001
%U https://constructivist.info/riegler/14
%J Cybernetics and Systems
%P 411-427
%V 32
%N 3–4
%X Is the evolution and performance of cognition an asymmetric, directed process? The standard externalist definition of evolution as a mechanism of variation and selection cannot account for directed developments such as an increase in complexity of cognition. A separate cause which is responsible for complexification requires us to deviate from the usual description of cognition as ahistorical logical problem-solving: the anticipation-driven nature of behavior, and hence cognition based on a ratchet effect. On a structural level it is evident that the growth of behavioral competence, similar to biological structures, must build on previously available components, thus yielding a canalization of development. This unavoidably introduces asymmetry in the cognitive evolution. Numerous examples show the relevance of the proposed mechanisms in biology, psychology, and the artificial sciences.
%2 cognitive science
PT - JOUR
A1 - Riegler A.
T1 - The cognitive ratchet. The ratchet effect as a fundamental principle in evolution and cognition
Y1 - 2001
UR - https://constructivist.info/riegler/14
AB - Is the evolution and performance of cognition an asymmetric, directed process? The standard externalist definition of evolution as a mechanism of variation and selection cannot account for directed developments such as an increase in complexity of cognition. A separate cause which is responsible for complexification requires us to deviate from the usual description of cognition as ahistorical logical problem-solving: the anticipation-driven nature of behavior, and hence cognition based on a ratchet effect. On a structural level it is evident that the growth of behavioral competence, similar to biological structures, must build on previously available components, thus yielding a canalization of development. This unavoidably introduces asymmetry in the cognitive evolution. Numerous examples show the relevance of the proposed mechanisms in biology, psychology, and the artificial sciences.
JF - Cybernetics and Systems
SP - 411
EP - 427
VL - 32
IS - 3–4
ER -
Riegler A. (2001) The cognitive ratchet. The ratchet effect as a fundamental principle in evolution and cognition. Cybernetics and Systems 32 (3–4): 411–427. Available at https://constructivist.info/riegler/14