연구
장대익 교수
Overview
Experiencing various intellectual traditions at the same time is as exciting as meeting a new love in a fancy restaurant. I was lucky enough to be able to indulge myself in very different intellectual traditions from early graduate school. One of intellectual tradition was philosophy of biology and the other, evolutionary sciences. With this unique experiences, I hoped to widen my view and knowledge in both philosophy and science.
My attempt to converge the humanities and natural sciences immediately faced a harsh reality. The people studying the humanities criticized me for being too science-oriented while the people from the field of sciences required a solid result of an experiment. It might seem cool to be a scholar who freely crosses over between the humanities and the natural sciences. However, studying as a wanderer in those studies could also be scary and burdensome. To be honest, the pride and the fear existed simultaneously when I studied crossing the boundaries of two different fields in the graduate school.
With this regard, becoming a professor in the College of Liberal Studies at Seoul National University was the turning point in my academic life. It was because the college guaranteed absolute freedom in studies to the professors. I started to dream again what I had given up in the past, to truly converge and study both philosophy and science. To achieve this grand journey, I looked for passionate crews to get on board with me. Graduate students from Interdisciplinary Program in History and Philosophy of Science who took interests in philosophy of biology, graduate students from Interdisciplinary Program in Cognitive Science who wished to study evolutionary social psychology, and undergraduate students who using self-designed major program, majored in evolution or cognitive science were the ones on the ship. These fellow students learned to enjoy the empirical and philosophical research. It has been five years since I sailed the ship with the crews and we are still struggling hard to sail across the ocean. The ship is called ‘Jang’s Lab for Human Nature Studies & Philosophy of Biology'.
I have learned one truth for certain through this sail. Today, any topic no matter how important or significant it is, can’t be fully discussed with just one field of knowledge and every best answer to a question requires both empirical research and philosophical study. And it was not until recently I was able to name this ‘come-all-together’ kind of study, the ‘nature studies’. The nature studies are not limited to methodology of natural philosophy or philosophy of science but it is a comprehensive research which embraces every empirical and philosophical study of nature. For example, the question “What is unique about human?” can’t be answered with just one field of sciences(ex. cognitive science) nor with few other related scientific fields. In order to provide persuasive theory of evolution of human uniqueness, not only science but also conceptual and philosophical methods to put all the experiential knowledges together are needed. In fact, for the past ten years, I have continued theoretical works and empirical research on the topics below.
Conceptual Issues in Biology
Moral Minds
Cultural Evolution
Sociality naturalized
Evolutionary Psychology
Science and Religion
Science and Technology Studies
1.
Conceptual Issues in Biology
First, I have theoretically covered the conceptual issues in current evolutionary theories. As I had studied those issues from the graduate school, I am certain that at least in Korea, I am the most accomplished researcher in this field. Among the issues, I have mainly focused my research on ‘the unit of selection’ problem and I have critically reviewed the multi-level selection theory. This professional research led me to publish my trilogy of Darwin Series in Korean, Darwin’s Table, Darwin’s Study, and Darwin’s Garden. Currently, I am working on comparing the metaphysics supported by replicator theory and developmental systems theory, respectively. Related accomplishments are as follows.
RESEARCH PAPER
- Jun, J., Yoo, S., and Jang, D.*(under review), On the Interpretations and Robustness of Inclusive Fitness Theory
- Jang, D.(2017), What Can Cultural Psychology Give to Twenty-First-Century Biology, East Asian Science, Technology and Society: An International Journal, 11:405-409
- Jun, J., and Jang, D.*(2017), Criticisms of the Perspective Pluralism of Trait-Group Selection Theory, Korean Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 20(1): 1-33(in Korean)
- Jun, J., and Jang, D.*(2015), A Controversy on Inclusive fitness theory and its semantic problems, Korean Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 18(1): 103-128(in Korean)
- Chun, J. N., Lim J. M., Kang, Y., Kim, E. H., Shin, Y.-C., Kim, H.-G., Jang, D., Kwon, D., Shin, S.-Y., So, I., and Jeon, J.-H.(2014), A network perspective on unraveling the role of TRP channels in biology and disease, Pflügers Archiv - European Journal of Physiology, 466:173-182.
- Jang, D.(2008), A Generalized Replicator theory, Genes, Memes, and Intentional Stance, Korean Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 11(1): 1-33(in Korean)
- Jang, D. (2007), Dawkins Revisited: Replicator, Agent, and the Beneficiary, Philosophical Thoughts, vol. 25, pp.195-225. (in Korean)
- Jang, D. (2005), Evolution of Altruism and Levels of selection controversy: Is Multi-level selection theory better?, Korean Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 8, pp.81-113. (in Korean)
- Jang,D., and Choe, J.C.*(2004), How Innovations Come About?, Philosophy and Reality, vol.60(1): 75-98.(in Korean)
- Jang, D.(2003), Searching for the Truth of the Genes: From the Selfish Gene Theory to Developmental Systems Theory, The ELSI Studies, vol. 1(1): 61-83.(in Korean)
CONFERENCE (International only)
- Jang, D.(2008), “Modularism from an Evo-Devo Perspective,” International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology workshop, Kobe University, Japan, Nov. 5. 2008
BOOKS
- Jang, D.(2017), Darwin’s Garden, Seoul: Bada. (in Korean) -> Sejong Book Award(2017)
- Jang, D.(2015), Darwin’s Table, revised, Seoul: Bada. (in Koeran)/the first ed. By Gimmyoung publishing company, 2008 (in Korean) -> The Best Book of the Year (The Minister of Science and Technology)
MANUSCRIPTS
- Jang, D. “An Evolutionary Metaphysical debate: Replicators vs. Developmental Systems”(in Korean)
2.
Moral Minds
Secondly, I have tried to understand the nature and evolution of human morality through the studies on the evolution of altruism and the psychology of moral judgment. A study on the philosophical implications of moral psychology carried out with the support of the Korea Research Foundation (2014 ~ 2015) is indeed the first attempt at psychological naturalization of morality in Korea. Currently, I am studying the evolution of moral disgust and the relationship between moral judgment and moral balance. The research results are as follows.
RESEARCH PAPER
- Kim, T., Hur, J.-W., Kwak, S., Jang, D, Lee, S.-H., Lee, J., & Kwon, J. S.(under review), Intrinsic Functional Connectivity of Blue and Red Brains: Neurobiological Evidence of Different Stress Resilience between Political Attitudes, Scientific Reports
- Jang, D.*, and M.-S. Lee(2018), On the Moral Status of Disgust, Philosophical Studies, vol. 122: 51-84(in Korean).
- Jang, D.(2013), Searching for the Moral Brain, in edited by Kim, S.I., C. Kim, and Y. S. Sung Connected with Brain, The 21th Book, pp. 347-382.
- Jang, D.(2009), Darwinian Humanities and Evolution of Humanities, Studies in Humanities, vol. 61: 3-47(in Korean)
- Jang, D.(2005), Evolution of Altruism and Levels of selection controversy: Is Multi-level selection theory better?, Korean Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 8, pp.81-113. (in Korean)
CONFERENCE (International only)
- Jang, D.(2013), “The Self and the Neuroscience of Morality,” in 2013 Neuroethics International Conference (Neuroethics in Context: East Meets West), Neuro-Humanities Research Group, Seoul, 11 Jan. 2013.
- Jang, D.(2012), “Humanities of Mirror Neurons“, BRC Int’l conference 2012 @Jeju in conjunction with the 5th BRC-UK joint symposium on neuroscience, 27~29, June, 2012, Jeju, 21st Century Frontier R&D program in neuroscience, Brain Research Center.
BOOKS
- Hong, S., and Jang, D.(eds.)(2012), The Neuroscience crossing the boundaries, Seoul: Bada. (in Korean)
- Hong, S., and Jang, D(eds.)(2010), Human in the Brain, Brain in Human, Seoul: Bada. 2010 (in Korean)
MANUSCRIPTS
- Ahn, G., and Jang, D.*, “Do economics experiments really support strong reciprocity? : A critical review of empirical evidence”
- M.-S. Lee and Jang, D.*, “Effects of Moral Balancing in Moral Decision Making”
3.
Cultural Evolution
Third, I tried to predict the change of cultural items by scientifically understanding the origin and transmission of culture, and by studying conceptual issues of cultural evolution theories. As a researcher who has supported and developed the meme theory among the other types of cultural evolution theories, I have been studying from the neuroscientific basis of the meme theory to industrial aspects such as innovation and evolution of artifacts.
Currently, I am doing a study to critically examine the recent controversies about the meme theory and in the future, I will conduct empirical research with psychologists and brain scientists on the social environment in which ideas are selected. The research on this subject has been further developed during the past two years through the Culture-Brain Transdisciplinary Research Center funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning in Korea. This research institute was a transdisciplinary center organized by 10 professors of humanities / social / natural sciences / engineering / medical fields at Seoul National University and I worked with the director of the center to plan and operate the research center.
RESEARCH PAPER
- Lee, M.-S., & Jang, D.*(2017), The Limit of Gene-Culture Co-evolutionary Theory, Korean Journal of Cognitive Science, vol. 28(3): 173-191.
- Jang, D.(2014), Latour meets Dennett: Actor-network Theory and Intentional System Theory, Korean Journal for the Philosophy of Science, vol. 17(2): 57-82(in Korean)
- Jang, D. (2012), Homo replicus: Imitation, Mirror Neurons, and Memes, Korean Journal of Cognitive Science, vol. 23(4): 517-550 (in Korean)
- Jang, D. (2011), Memes and Consilience: A new resolution for unity of knowledge debate in Korea, Integrative Studies, vol. 1(1): 129-146 (in Korean)
CONFERENCE (International only)
- Jang, D.(2010), "Taking Culture Seriously: Neuron and Neuroscience in the Context", The 10th Niennial meeting of the Asia-Pacific Society for Neurochemistry, Phuket, Taipei, 19 Oct 2010.
- Jang, D.(2011), “Sensibility and the Evolution of Meme Machine”, 2011 The Korean Society For Emotion & Sensibility Conference, Daejeon, Korea, 2011.5.
BOOKS
- Jang, D.(2017), Evolution and Innovation of Artifacts: Beyond Analogy, in Evolution of Artifacts, edited by J.D. Lee et al., Seoul National University Press, pp. 26-69. (in Korean)
- Jang, D.(2012), Evolutionary Convergence and Creative Innovations, in What is Convergence, edited by Hong, D., ScienceBooks, pp. 167-194. (in Korean)
MANUSCRIPTS
- Shin, S., Lee, M.-S., and Jang, D*, “When the song cross the borders: Co-evolution of BTS and their Army”
4.
Sociality naturalized
Fourth, I have attempted the naturalization of sociality based on various relevant scientific fields (evolutionary biology / psychology / brain science). One of the achievements in this process was the publication to PLOS ONE of a social psychological study of the impact of human ego-network density on inference style. The other was the publication of a book called UltraSocial through interdisciplinary research on human sociality.
But, most of all, the research that the members of our laboratory have been working for the last two and a half years has the greatest significance. We have conducted social psychological experiments on the psychological threats and countermeasures we have actually experienced in match between Lee Sedol - AlphaGo, which are called human-machine match in terms of social identity theory. It was recently published in Computers in Human Behavior. I have also conducted evolutionary social psychology research on overlapping of online networks and offline networks, and this paper is too, under review. Through a series of these studies, I hope to acquire a new and deeper understanding of the social nature of group life. Recently, I published a paper about the relationship between experiential purchase and happiness.
RESEARCH PAPER
- Cha, Y., Baek, S., Ahn, G., Lee, H., Lee, B., & Jang. D.*(2020), Compensating for the loss of human distinctiveness: The use of social creativity under Human–Machine comparisons, Computers in Human Behavior 103: 80-90
- Cha, Y.-J., Baek, S., Lee, H.-S., Bae, J., Lee, J., Lee, S.-H., Kim, G., & Jang, D.*(2019), Combating Identity Threat of Machine: The effect of group-affirmation on humans’ intellectual performance loss, Korean Journal of Cognitive Science, 30(3): 157-174.
- Jang, D.(2018), Desires of Future: Android, Cyborg, and Network, 5 Designing Media Ecology, 09 winter: 59-66.
- Shin, J.-E., and Jang, D.*(2018), How does self-perceived wealth contribute to happiness? Increased preference for experiential purchase, The Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, vol. 32(2): 47-66.(in Korean)
- Bae, J., Cha, Y.J., Lee, H., Lee, B., Baek, S., Choi, S., and Jang, D.*(2017), Social networks and inference about unknown events: A case of the match between Google’s AlphaGo and Sedol Lee., PLoS ONE 12(2): e0171472.doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0171472
- Bae, J., Cha, Y.J., Kang, D., and Jang, D.*(under review), “Relational Qualities and Contact Overlaps between Online and Offline Social Networks”
- Hur, J-W., Jang, D., Lee, S-H., Kwak, S., and Kwon, J. S.(under review), “Winning Enhances Self-esteem: Changes in Psychological Characteristics According to Socioeconomic Status after a General Election”
CONFERENCE (International only)
- Cha, Y.J., Baek, S., Lee, H., Lee, B., Ahn, G., and Jang, D.*(2017), “Self-Compartmentalization Matters: The Underlying Process of Social Creativity”, Society for Personality and Social Psychology 18th Annual Convention, 21 Jan. 2017, San Antonio, USA.
- Lee, M.S., Ryu,J., and Jang, D.*(2012), “How they pick out the answer in multiple choice questionnaire: independent-self vs. interdependent-self”, 34th Annual Cognitive Science Conference, August 1-4, 2012, Sapporo, Japan.
BOOKS
- Jang, D.(2017), Ultrasocial, Seoul: Humanist (in Korean)
5.
Evolutionary Psychology
Fifth, Research has been conducted on major themes of evolutionary psychology such as architecture of mind, human mating behavior, and life history theory. More specifically, I have mainly focused on massive modularity of mind, sexual jealousy, facial attractiveness, and natural history of pornography. Recently, I have been working on life history approaches to parenting, victim blaming, fertility rate and studying changes in empathic behavior according to women's ovulation cycle. More recently, I began to work on expanding empathic circle to outgroup and psychology for end of wars, focusing on inter-Korean summits in 2018.
RESEARCH PAPER
- Shin, J.*, Suh, E. M., and Jang, D.(2018), Mate value at a glance: Facial attractiveness reveals women’s waist-to-hip ratio and men’s household income, Personality and Individual Differences, 135:128-130.
- Jang, D. (2012), A Natural History of Pornography: Evolutionary and neuroscientific approaches, The Journal of Criticism and Theory, vol. 17(1): 261-281. (in Korean)
CONFERENCE (International only)
- Baek, S., and Jang, D*(2018). “Women with a competitive partner are cooperative with other fertile woman under male-threat context”, Human Behavior and Evolution Society 30th Annual meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 2018.7.5
- Cha, Y.J., J.Kim., and Jang, D*(2017), “The Effect of Harsh Early Childhood Environments of Parents on Academic Achievement of Children: The Mediating Role of Perceived Positive Parenting”, The 10th Korea Welfare Panel Study Conference, Seoul National University, 2017.9.15.
- Jang, D.(2008), "Modular Stance: Bridging Evo-Devo and Evolutionary Psychology," International symposium for Philosophy of biology and philosophy of economics, National Chungching University, Taiwan
BOOKS
- Jang, D.(2012), Sociobiology and the Evolutionary Reductionism, in Sociobiology Debates, edited by D.K.Kim, S.K.Kim., and J.C.Choe, Eum, pp.65-106.(in Korean)
- J. C. Choe, Y. W. Han, H. Kim, H. S. Hwang, and S. H. Hong, and Jang, D.(2003), Evolutionary Psychology of Homicide: Familial and Spousal Homicide in the Late The Late Chosun Era, Seoul: Seoul National University Press (in Korean)
MANUSCRIPTS
- Cha, Y.J. Jung, J., & Jang, D.*, “Who and why blame victims: life history strategies and belief in a just world”
- Cha, Y.J., J. Kim., and Jang, D*, “The Effect of Harsh Early Childhood Environments of Parents on Academic Achievement of Children: The Mediating Role of Perceived Positive Parenting”
- Baek, S. J., and Jang, D*, “The Effect of Women Competition Motivation on Empathy across the Ovulation Cycle”
- Cha, Y.J., Ko, W., Lim, Y., Jang, J., Cho, Y.*, & Jang, D.*, “Competition Tightness Underlies the Effect of Population Density on Fertility: A Life History Theory Approach”
- Yoon, J., Cha, Y. J., and Jang, D.*, “Change in Acceptance Attitude towards Kim Jong-un after the inter-Korean Summit: Analysis through Stereotype Content Model”
- Hwang, J., Cha, Y.J., and Jang, D.*, “Evolutionary Psychology for End of War: Inter-Korean case”
6.
Science and Religion
Sixth, I have been studying the relationship between science and religion. Especially, as a evolutionary scholar and a philosopher of science, I have been deeply involved in the Korean context of evolution-creation controversy. As a result I was involved in the so-called 'Text Revision by Creationists' scandal and I actively intervened in advocating evolutionary education. In this process, I persuaded related academics to write a petition to refute the Text Revision’s petition and interviewed on behalf of Korean society for evolutionary sciences in international journals such as Nature and Science.
RESEARCH PAPER
- Jang, D.(2012), Why does Korean Protestantism want to be a science, Criticisms in Religious Cultures, vol. 19:101-136 (in Korean)
- Jang, D.(2008), Is Religion a Spandrel: Religion, Cognition, and Evolution, Criticisms in Religious Cultures, vol. 14: 13-42(in Korean)
CONFERENCE (International only)
- Nature Interview on Text Book Revision by Creationists in Korea: http://www.nature.com/news/south-korea-surrenders-to-creationist-demands-1.10773(05 June 2012)
- Science Interview on Text Book Revision by Creationists in Korea: http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2012/07/south-korea-to-reconsider-plan.html(06 July 2012)
BOOKS
- Shin, J., Kim, Y. S., and Jang, D.(2009), Religion Wars, Seoul: Sciencebooks. (in Korean) -> The Best Book of The Year (Joongang Daily Newspaper)
7.
Science and Technology Studies
Lastly, science technology studies such as bio-ethics, neuro-ethics, research ethics are also topics to be studied. I have been exploring what kinds of social, ethical, and legal problems that science and technology dealing with brain can cause. Recently, I have been conducting a joint research on humanities and social issues related to genome editing.
RESEARCH PAPER
- Lee, K-Y., and Jang, D.*(2013), Ethical and Social Issues Behind Brain-Computer Interface, PROC. OF 2013 IEEE INTERNATIONAL WINTER WORKSHOP ON BRAIN-COMPUTER INTERFACE, 72 ~ 75.
- Jang, D.(2011), On the Cultural, Positive, and Creative Aspects of Research Ethics, Korean Journal of Science Technology Studies, 21: 131-139 (in Korean)
- Jang, D.(2008), Issues in Neuroethics, Philosophy and Reality, vol. 78: 137-151(in Korean)
CONFERENCE (International only)
- Jang, D.(2010), "Neuroethics Meets Culture," 2010 society for social studies of science symposium, University of Tokyo, Japan, 26 Aug 2010.
MANUSCRIPTS
- Jang, D. “Criticisms of Genome editing technology and ‘the Optimality Intuition”