The Oxford Handbook of Causal ReasoningMichael Waldmann Causal reasoning is one of our most central cognitive competencies, enabling us to adapt to our world. Causal knowledge allows us to predict future events, or diagnose the causes of observed facts. We plan actions and solve problems using knowledge about cause-effect relations. Although causal reasoning is a component of most of our cognitive functions, it has been neglected in cognitive psychology for many decades. The Oxford Handbook of Causal Reasoning offers a state-of-the-art review of the growing field, and its contribution to the world of cognitive science. The Handbook begins with an introduction of competing theories of causal learning and reasoning. In the next section, it presents research about basic cognitive functions involved in causal cognition, such as perception, categorization, argumentation, decision-making, and induction. The following section examines research on domains that embody causal relations, including intuitive physics, legal and moral reasoning, psychopathology, language, social cognition, and the roles of space and time. The final section presents research from neighboring fields that study developmental, phylogenetic, and cultural differences in causal cognition. The chapters, each written by renowned researchers in their field, fill in the gaps of many cognitive psychology textbooks, emphasizing the crucial role of causal structures in our everyday lives. This Handbook is an essential read for students and researchers of the cognitive sciences, including cognitive, developmental, social, comparative, and cross-cultural psychology; philosophy; methodology; statistics; artificial intelligence; and machine learning. |
Contents
An Introduction | 1 |
Part I Theories of Causal Cognition | 11 |
Part II Basic Cognitive Functions | 243 |
Part III Domains of Causal Reasoning | 513 |
Part IV Development Phylogeny and Culture | 675 |
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action alternative approach argument asked associative assumed attribution ball Bayesian behavior beliefs blocking causal judgments causal learning causal model causal reasoning causal relations causal structure cause Chapter Cheng Cognitive Science common concepts conditional consider contingency counterfactual decision depends direction effect et al evidence example Experimental Psychology experiments explanation fact factors Figure findings force function given goal human important independent induction inference influence interaction interventions intuitive involved Journal of Experimental judgments knowledge means mechanism Memory mental objects observed occur outcome Oxford participants particular physical positive possible predictions present Press prior probability problem question Rehder relationships represent representations Review role rule showed similar situations Sloman strength studies suggests Table task temporal theory tion trials understanding University variables Waldmann