Lines of Thought: Central Concepts in Cognitive PsychologyLines of Thought addresses how we are able to think about abstract possibilities: How can we think about math, despite the immateriality of numbers, sets, and other mathematical entities? How are we able to think about what might have happened if history had taken a different turn? Questions like these turn up in nearly every part of cognitive science, and they are central to our human position of having only limited knowledge concerning what is or might be true. Because we cannot experience hypothetical or future events or abstract concepts, we cannot use our ordinary sense of perception or memory to think about these subjects, so what underlies our ability to make these assumptions?Lance Rips explores people's beliefs about possibilities as they arise in the context of basic concepts, including numbers, causality, and reasons. He argues that beliefs about these concepts cannot be meaningfully reduced to perceptual information, remembered instances, or probabilities. He also claims that analogies to cognitive perception models are equally unhelpful in understanding what makes thinking of possibilities possible. Instead, he makes the case that our abilities here depend on the intrinsic hardwiring of the human mind.Lines of Thought provides an overview and a point of view on research in higher-level cognitive science, integrating theories from psychology, philosophy, and linguistics. The book is written in an accessible style that will provide students with essential background for their own thoughts about this domain. |
Contents
1 Individuals | 3 |
2 Numbers | 57 |
3 Causes | 119 |
4 Kinds | 181 |
5 Thoughts | 249 |
6 Reasons | 289 |
Cognitive Structure | 359 |
References | 379 |
| 419 | |
| 431 | |
Common terms and phrases
ability According addition appear approach argument beliefs causal cause Chapter claim cognitive combination components composite concepts conclusion conditional consider Continuer copy correct count course daisies deductive depends determine distinction domain earlier effect essential evidence example exist experiments explain fact factors Figure follows function Gelman given idea identity important individual inductive infants inference innate instances interaction interpretation issue judgments knowledge language learning lines lion logic look mathematical meaning mechanisms mental mini-theories natural kinds natural numbers necessary objects operating original participants people’s perhaps physical position possible predictions premises present Press principles probability problem produce properties psychological question reasoning relations represent representations responsible rules sentences similar simple situations sort sortal statements structure studies suggests suppose syllogisms Table task theory things true typically understanding University variables