Eric Margolis
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Infants, Animals, and the Origins of Number  PDF

ABSTRACT. Where do human numerical abilities come from? This article is a commentary on Leibovich et al.’s “From 'sense of number' to 'sense of magnitude' —The role of continuous magnitudes in numerical cognition”. Leibovich et al. argue against nativist views of numerical development by noting limitations in newborns’ vision and limitations regarding newborns’ ability to individuate objects. I argue that these considerations do not undermine competing nativist views and that Leibovich et al.'s model itself presupposes that infant learners have numerical representations.

Margolis, E., (2017). Infants, Animals, and the Origins of Number. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 40, e178.
DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X16002168 
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