Causal Cognition

While most psychologists agree that understanding cause-effect relationships is fundamental to the study of cognition, exactly how those relationships should be interpreted is open to serious debate. In Causal Cognition, leading experts from a range of disciplines--including philosophy, anthropology, and comparative, social, and developmental psychology--come together to offer an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge account of the field. Reflecting on a range of topics, from the role and...
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While most psychologists agree that understanding cause-effect relationships is fundamental to the study of cognition, exactly how those relationships should be interpreted is open to serious debate. In Causal Cognition, leading experts from a range of disciplines--including philosophy, anthropology, and comparative, social, and developmental psychology--come together to offer an interdisciplinary, cutting-edge account of the field. Reflecting on a range of topics, from the role and forms of causal knowledge (both in animal and human cognition) to the development of human causal understanding, the various contributors highlight areas where different approaches converge and conflict. The result is an insightful status report of a fascinating subject that will appeal to students and researchers across the social sciences.