ABSTRACT

This collection brings together a set of specially commissioned chapters from leading international researchers in the psychology of reasoning. Its purpose is to explore the historical, philosophical and theoretical implications of the development of this field. Taking the unusual approach of engaging not only with empirical data but also with the ideas and concepts underpinning the psychology of reasoning, this volume has important implications both for psychologists and other students of cognition, including philosophers. Sub-fields covered include mental logic, mental models, rational analysis, social judgement theory, game theory and evolutionary theory. There are also specific chapters dedicated to the history of syllogistic reasoning, the psychology of reasoning as it operates in scientific theory and practice, Brunswickian approaches to reasoning and task environments, and the implications of Popper's philosophy for models of behaviour testing. This cross-disciplinary dialogue and the range of material covered makes this an invaluable reference for students and researchers into the psychology and philosophy of reasoning.

chapter 1|10 pages

The contextual character of thought

Integrating themes from the histories and theories of the study of reasoning

chapter 2|32 pages

Reasoning and task environments

The Brunswikian approach

chapter 6|30 pages

The natural history of hypotheses about the selection task

Towards a philosophy of science for investigating human reasoning

chapter 7|22 pages

Reasoning and rationality

The pure and the practical

chapter 8|34 pages

The history of mental models

chapter 11|20 pages

Coherence and argumentation

chapter 12|22 pages

Reasoning about strategic interaction

Solution concepts in game theory

chapter 13|24 pages

What we reason about and why

How evolution explains reasoning

chapter 14|16 pages

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

Translating Popper’s philosophy into a model for testing behaviour

chapter 15|22 pages

Constructing science