Is There Really an Evolved Capacity for Number?

Rafael E Núñez

June 2017 Trends Cogn Sci

Synopsis of Social media discussions

The conversations reveal a nuanced debate, with some posts emphasizing the article's skepticism about innate number capacity, using words like 'questioned' and 'critique', while others reference the uniqueness of human arithmetic and symbolism, indicating active engagement with the research's implications and methodology.

A
Agreement
 Moderate agreement

Most discussions support Núñez's critique, emphasizing that the concept of an innate evolved capacity for number is questionable, as seen in phrases like 'his answer is no' and references to the critique of claims supporting that idea.

I
Interest
 High level of interest

Several discussions express strong curiosity about the topic, highlighting debates on whether humans possess an innate numerical ability and referencing recent studies and critiques, indicating high engagement with the subject.

E
Engagement
 Moderate level of engagement

Participants reference specific research and critique methodological bases, reflecting thoughtful analysis and some depth, such as mentioning symbolic support for arithmetic being unique to humans.

I
Impact
 Moderate level of impact

The discussion indicates that the article challenges existing beliefs and could influence future research on cognition and evolution, though the immediate practical impact appears moderate.

Social Mentions

YouTube

2 Videos

Bluesky

1 Posts

Twitter

5 Posts

Metrics

Video Views

3,342

Total Likes

73

Extended Reach

29,734

Social Features

8

Timeline: Posts about article

Top Social Media Posts

Posts referencing the article

Origins of Numbers: Biological and Cultural Perspectives Explored

Origins of Numbers: Biological and Cultural Perspectives Explored

This video examines whether humans and animals have an evolved biological ability for understanding numbers and arithmetic, highlighting the distinction between general quantity discrimination and symbolic numerical cognition.

SEMF

May 27, 2021

1,775 views

Origins of Numbers and Quantitative Cognition in Humans and Animals

Origins of Numbers and Quantitative Cognition in Humans and Animals

This video explores whether humans and animals have an evolved biological capacity for understanding numbers and arithmetic, highlighting differences between quantical and numerical cognition, and critiquing common assumptions about innate numerical abilities.

SEMF

August 23, 2021

1,568 views

  • Jacob R. Cheeseman
    @jrcheeseman (Twitter)

    @StevenDakin Núñez, R. E. (2017a). Is There Really an Evolved Capacity for Number? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 21(6), 409–424. https://t.co/RjDFGy4MvF
    view full post

    September 22, 2022

  • Valerie Degnan
    @sparkyval (Twitter)

    RT @RTB_HRoss: Human Design: Study shows that arithmetic & symbols to support arithmetic is unique to humans among Earth’s animals. https:/…
    view full post

    June 4, 2021

    3

  • John Sears
    @JohnSears2077 (Twitter)

    RT @RTB_HRoss: Human Design: Study shows that arithmetic & symbols to support arithmetic is unique to humans among Earth’s animals. https:/…
    view full post

    June 3, 2021

    3

  • Joseph Daniel
    @josephwdr (Twitter)

    RT @RTB_HRoss: Human Design: Study shows that arithmetic & symbols to support arithmetic is unique to humans among Earth’s animals. https:/…
    view full post

    June 2, 2021

    3

  • Hugh Ross
    @RTB_HRoss (Twitter)

    Human Design: Study shows that arithmetic & symbols to support arithmetic is unique to humans among Earth’s animals. https://t.co/U01m5I3Und
    view full post

    June 2, 2021

    7

    3

  • Kensy Cooperrider
    @kensycoop.bsky.social (Bluesky)

    In a new TiCS opinion, Núñez asks: "Is there really an evolved capacity for number?" His answer is 'no'. http://www.cell.com/trends/cognitive-sciences/fulltext/S1364-6613(17)30048-7
    view full post

    May 17, 2017

    1

Abstract Synopsis

  • The text discusses whether humans and other species have an evolved biological ability specifically for understanding numbers and arithmetic, but it questions this idea by critiquing the underlying assumptions and methods used in such arguments.
  • It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between "quantical" cognition, which is an evolved general ability to discriminate quantities, and "numerical" cognition, which involves exact numbers and arithmetic that require cultural learning and symbolic understanding.
  • The critique suggests that many arguments for an evolved capacity for number are based on flawed reasoning, misleading interpretations of data, and loose terminology, and that similar debates apply to other cognitive abilities like geometry, music, art, and language.]