Talk by Olivier Morin

The method of “natural experiments,” popular in economics or ecology, consists in using naturally occurring phenomena (in conjunction with controlled experiments, or on their own) to test hypotheses. Though less straightforwardly interpretable than controlled experiments, the ecological validity and historical relevance of natural experiments arguably compensate for some of their flaws. Cultural history provides some of the best material for such work: books, paintings, or games can be seen as a long-standing, well-recorded experiment on human cognition. This point of view will be illustrated with a series of studies: the evolution of portraiture, the expression of emotions in novels, and the shape of letters in various alphabets. Reflections on the unpredictability of cultural change and the limits of natural experiments will be added if time allows.