The practical other: teleology and its development. (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perner, Josef; Priewasser, Beate; Roessler, Johannes
• Is Part Of: Interdisciplinary science reviews. Volume 43:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 99
• Page End: 114
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Theory of mind -- teleology -- theory theory -- simulation theory -- rationality theory -- reasons for action -- perspective taking -- counterfactual reasoning; Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals; 505
• DOI: 10.1080/03080188.2018.1453246
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0308-0188

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We argue for teleology as a description of the way in which we ordinarily understand others' intentional actions. Teleology starts from the close resemblance between the reasoning involved in understanding others' actions and one's own practical reasoning involved in deciding what to do. We carve out teleology's distinctive features more sharply by comparing it to its three main competitors: theory theory, simulation theory, and rationality theory. The plausibility of teleology as our way of understanding others is underlined by developmental data in its favour.