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Spandrels in the cathedral of the mind
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 July 2026
Abstract
Reviving Gould and Lewontin’s critique of adaptationism, Singh’s subjective selection favors truth over useful simplification. Nonetheless, while psychologically plausible, its explanatory power remains limited. Moreover, by treating evolved psychology as fixed, it neglects gene-culture coevolution. The result is a vision of cultural evolution whose expansiveness risks outpacing its scientific utility.
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- Open Peer Commentary
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- © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Cambridge University Press
Target article
Subjective selection, super-attractors, and the origins of the cultural manifold
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Author response
Goals, power, and selection: Foundational issues in the naturalistic study of culture