The Role And The Influence Of Culture And Its Evolution On The Development Of Cognition

In recent years, great progress have been made in the research of philosophy of science of cognition, such as cognitive psychology which provides all kinds of theories of cognitive abilities (vision and audition) and corresponding experimental corroboration and claims that the inner psychological process of human beings can be analyzed through computers, physiology of nerve which provides the analysis of the nerve systems producing all kinds of cognitive abilities, artificial intelligence which provides the analysis of how to realize all kinds of complicate cognitive capacities by means of physical system and linguistics functioning as a medium for science of cognition. Although all above-mentioned subjects provide some paths and projects to solve the cognitive problems, they don't do research on cognition from the point of view of culture. To make up for this shortcoming, this paper analyses statically and dynamically the role and influence of culture and its evolution on the development of cognition.Part 1 :Culture, Cognition and their relation. First of all, we give the definitions of some concepts such as culture and cognition and then illuminate the contextual relevancy between them from three different views of point: 1.Human beings are stepping into cultural existence after natural and technological existence;2.Culture, as a symbolic system, converts physical reality into empirical reality and some given cultural traditions will form some influences on scientists.3.Scientism is characterized by its positivism, logics and objectivity but rejects its humanism and value;finally expound the position of culture in cognition.Part 2: Statically, we expound the cultural influence on cognition, that is, the influence of cultural model and cultural tools on cognition. Firstly, we refer to the influence of cultural model on cognition and then show that cultural model in some certain fields forms continuity and agreement and exerts a subtle influence on cognition to make a bridge between cognition and culture and to share it among community. Secondly, we refer to theinfluence of cultural tools on cognition and then show that cultural tools, as the media product between cognitive development and cultural spread, play an important role in the activity of cognition.Part 3: Dynamically, we expound the influence on cognition, that is, the influence of cultural changes and cultural evolution on cognition. Firstly, we expound the influence of cultural changes and show they not only bring up new value view of human, but also give special and unique cultural characters of human in the history;next, expound the influence of cultural evolution and point out that cultural environment, as a product of human history, is not only a necessary cognitive equipment, but also a product of biological evolution.Part 4: Conclusion. We sum up the role and the influence of culture on cognition, that is, the research on cognition of human can't break away from social culture, ideology and value view because cognition of human is concrete, originates from some certain historic and cultural environment and reflects some certain contents of social culture. So, cognition is not so called "pure cognition" which is away from context and culture, but a practical cognitive activity in real life.