The modularity of the spirit is a Théorie of the philosopher Jerry Fodor, inspired of work of Noam Chomsky and very influential in the cognitive Sciences. According to this thesis the human spirit includes/understands a certain number of modules specialized in the execution of certain functions Cognitive S. For Fodor these modules function automatically , unconsciously , very quickly , in parallel and independently from/to each other , being opposed in that to the conscious system central, controlled but so slow and sequential. The operation of these modules also innate, is at most influenced by some parameters but to in no case resulting from a Apprentissage.

An example of module relates to the treatment of the Langage, inside of which there exist submodules (Sémantique, Syntaxe, morphology…) independent from/to each other. This Encapsulation within the module of the language would explain why we are able to speak while making another thing or to judge validates syntactically celebrates it sentence of Noam Chomsky “Of colorless green ideas sleep furiously” while at the same time do not include/understand we it.

This theory is the subject of an intense controversy relating in particular on the operational definition of such Module S, on the extent of their specialization or their independence.

These ideas were generalized by the evolutionary Psychologie which postulates the existence of modules specialized for each field of knowledge. This evolution is disapproved by Chomsky and is denounced by Fodor in a recent book ( the spirit, that does not go like that ).

References

Jerry Fodor, Modularity of the spirit: test on the psychology of faculties , collection Proposals, Editions of Midnight, Paris, 1983.