intellectica 2008/3, n° 50

Religion and Cognition

Jack GOODY

Religion and Cognition

Abstract: Considering the very limited results obtained by cognitive science in its attempt to account for religious phenomena, it seems more promising to look for an explanation in terms of cultural transmission without referring the latter to “built-in” capacities. The article is more particularly focused on the role played by religions in the diffusion of techniques linked to writing, but stresses at the same time the  ambivalence displayed by religions towards Science, the development of which is nonetheless dependent on the generalisation of these techniques.

Keywords: influence of writing on religion; ambiguous attitude of religion towards science; role played by religion in the diffusion of technologies of communication.

[table of contents]