Teleology: explaining things via their intended purpose. Turns out we’ve a tendency to use it everywhere.
(Sorry for the re-upload, guys! My computer’s on the fritz. :( )
“Why Are Rocks Pointy? Children’s Preference for Teleological Explanations of the Natural World” (Kelemen, 1999) - https://www.bu.edu/cdl/files/2013/08/1999_Kelemen_PointyRocks.pdf
“Intuitions About Origins: Purpose and Intelligent Design in Children’s Reasoning About Nature” (Kelemen & DiYanni, 2005) - https://www.bu.edu/cdl/files/2013/08/2005_KelemenDiYanni.pdf
“The Human Function Compunction: Teleological explanation in adults” (Kelemen 2009)
Students’ preconceptions in introductory mechanics (Clement, 1981) - https://www.physics.utoronto.ca/~key/PHY1600/PER%20Papers/Student%20Preconceptions%20-%20Clement.pdf
“Why we evolved the urge to explain,” via the Rationally Speaking Podcast - http://rationallyspeakingpodcast.org/show/rs-186-tania-lombrozo-on-why-we-evolved-the-urge-to-explain.html
“Explanada,” Tania Lombrozo’s Blog- https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/explananda