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The elephant in the China shop: When technical reasoning meets cumulative technological culture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 August 2020

François Osiurak Open the ORCID record for François Osiurak [Opens in a new window]  and
Emanuelle Reynaud
François Osiurak
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Lyon, 69007Lyon, Francefrancois.osiurak@univ-lyon2.fr emanuelle.reynaud@univ-lyon2.frhttps://emc.univ-lyon2.fr/fr/equipes/equipe-cognition-outils-systemes/francois-osiurak/francois-osiurak-610797.kjsphttps://emc.univ-lyon2.fr/fr/equipes/equipe-cognition-outils-systemes/emanuelle-reynaud/ French University Institute, 75231Paris, France.
Emanuelle Reynaud
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Lyon, 69007Lyon, Francefrancois.osiurak@univ-lyon2.fr emanuelle.reynaud@univ-lyon2.frhttps://emc.univ-lyon2.fr/fr/equipes/equipe-cognition-outils-systemes/francois-osiurak/francois-osiurak-610797.kjsphttps://emc.univ-lyon2.fr/fr/equipes/equipe-cognition-outils-systemes/emanuelle-reynaud/
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Abstract

The commentaries have both revealed the implications of and challenged our approach. In this response, we reply to these concerns, discuss why the technical-reasoning hypothesis does not minimize the role of social-learning mechanisms – nor assume that technical-reasoning skills make individuals omniscient technically – and make suggestions for overcoming the classical opposition between the cultural versus cognitive niche hypothesis of cumulative technological culture.

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Authors' Response
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Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 43 , 2020 , e183
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Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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