Abstract
The introductory study defends the potential of natural science-inspired approach to the study of human culture. To this purpose and in order to deal with the reductions employed by modern science, he uses Ricoeur's concept of a 'gift of modernity'.
Cognitive reduction is justified if it is conscious, fits the issue at stake, and if it is aware of the plural nature of the 'layers of description'. This the author demonstrates using the topic of local situatedness and context-dependency of natural science (i.e., evolution is not aiming at some absolutely optimal state and it depends on the state of the environment), on certain specific features of selection within a society, and on the performative role of some kinds of speech acts.