Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - April 2011 - Volume 34, Issue 02  

Open Peer Commentary

What is argument for? An adaptationist approach to argument and debate

David Pietraszewskia1

a1 Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520-8205. david.pietraszewski@yale.edu

Abstract

A consideration of selection pressures on the psychology of argument suggests that fixing the truth value of claims is not the primary criterion for argument generation or evaluation. Instead, argument psychology is designed to change representations in other minds as a way to negotiate conflicts of interest and as a way to signal social coordination.

(Online publication March 29 2011)

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