What Does it Mean for Cognitive Function to be Innate?

Abstract

The article is devoted to answering the question “what is innateness in regard to cognitive functions?” To answer this question, we decided to formulate the most plausible definition of “innate”. This aim can be reached by adopting S. Has­langer’s amelioration and/or R. Carnap’s explication as a definition-forming technique. This strategy of defining presupposes the certain criteria for a good definition: 1) a definition has to meet the set of requirements (consistency, prac­ticality, etc.); 2) a definition has to be appropriate for the set of picked areas of knowledge; 3) a definition has to be applicable for the set of picked tasks. First, we described the relevant areas of knowledge and tasks for “innate”. Then, we examined the poverty of the stimulus approach to the problem of innateness on whether the definitions that we can deduce from it meet the mentioned criteria. As we found out, the definition of “innate” that was deduced from the poverty of the stimulus approach meets these criteria. Hence, we can conclude that this def­inition of “innate” can be efficiently used for solving scientific and philosophical problems concerning innate cognitive functions. Finally, we answered to some possible criticisms.