On the significance of William James to a contemporary doctrine of evolutionary psychology

Jean Suplizio

pp. 357-375

in: Human Studies 30 (4), 2007.

Abstract

Academic popularizers of the new field of evolutionary psychology make notable appeals to William James to bolster their doctrine. In particular, they cite James' remark that humans have all the "impulses" animals do and many more besides to shore up their claim that people's "instincts" account for their flexibility. This essay argues that these scholars misinterpret James on the instincts. Consciousness (which they find inscrutable) explains cognitive flexibility for James. The evolutionary psychologists' appeal to James is, therefore, unwarranted and, given the conditions relevant to the public and professional audiences they address, also ineffective as a rhetorical tool for enlisting new recruits.

Cited authors

James William