@article{9fb34f5d5c22469cb1745444b58a6f5e,
title = "The original sin of cognition: Fear, prejudice, and generalization",
abstract = "Generic generalizations such as 'mosquitoes carry the West Nile virus' or 'sharks attack bathers' are often accepted by speakers despite the fact that very few members of the kinds in question have the predicated property. Previous work suggests that such low-prevalence generalizations may be accepted when the properties in question are dangerous, harmful, or appalling. This paper argues that the study of such generic generalizations sheds light on a particular class of prejudiced social beliefs, and points to new ways in which those beliefs might be undermined and combatted.",
author = "Leslie, {Sarah Jane}",
note = "Funding Information: * I would like to thank the following people for their invaluable help, comments, and conversation: K. Anthony Appiah, Andrei Cimpian, Kai-Yuan Cheng, Susan Gelman, Tamar Szab{\'o} Gendler, Sam Glucksberg, Susan Fiske, Elizabeth Harman, Sally Haslanger, Richard Holton, Mark Johnston, Thomas Kelly, Sangeet Khemlani, Rae Langton, Eden Lin, Ron Mallon, Sally McConnell-Ginet, Sarah McGrath, Alexander Nehamas, Rachel Parsons, Mark Richard, Gideon Rosen, Sandy Waxman, Helen Yetter Chappell, the members of my fall and spring 2009 Philosophical Issues in Language and Cognition class, and anonymous reviewers for this journal. Preparation of this article was supported by NSF grant BCS-1226942. This article has undergone light revision since its acceptance by this journal in 2009. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 The Journal of Philosophy, Inc.",
year = "2017",
month = aug,
doi = "10.5840/jphil2017114828",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "114",
pages = "393--421",
journal = "Journal of Philosophy",
issn = "0022-362X",
publisher = "Journal of Philosophy, Inc.",
number = "8",
}