The Oxford Handbook of Causal Reasoning, edited by Michael Waldmann, stands as a comprehensive exploration of one of our most fundamental cognitive abilities. Published by Oxford University Press on March 30, 2017, this unabridged volume delves into the intricate ways we understand and utilize cause-and-effect relationships to navigate and adapt to our environment. Causal knowledge is the bedrock of our capacity to anticipate future events, diagnose the origins of observed phenomena, and to effectively plan, problem-solve, and make decisions. Despite its pervasive influence across most cognitive functions, causal reasoning has historically received less attention in cognitive psychology than its significance warrants. This handbook rectifies that oversight, offering a current and authoritative overview of this burgeoning field and its profound contributions to cognitive science.

The handbook commences with an introduction to the diverse and often competing theories surrounding causal learning and reasoning. Subsequent sections meticulously examine the foundational cognitive functions underpinning causal cognition, including perception, categorization, argumentation, decision-making, and induction. The narrative then broadens to encompass research on various domains where causal relations are paramount, such as intuitive physics, legal and moral reasoning, psychopathology, language, social cognition, and the influential roles of space and time. The final section thoughtfully investigates research from adjacent fields, shedding light on developmental, phylogenetic, and cultural variations in causal cognition. Each chapter, authored by leading experts in their respective disciplines, addresses crucial aspects often omitted from standard cognitive psychology texts, underscoring the indispensable role of causal structures in our daily existence. This essential handbook is an indispensable resource for students and researchers across the cognitive sciences, encompassing cognitive, developmental, social, comparative, and cross-cultural psychology, as well as philosophy, methodology, statistics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

Details:
Author: Michael Waldmann (Editor)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: March 30, 2017
ISBN-13: 978-0199399574