The Roots of Reason - Philosophical Essays on Rationality, Evolution, and Probability (Paperback, New ed)

David Papineau presents a controversial view of human reason, portraying it as a normal part of the natural world, and drawing on the empirical sciences to illuminate its workings. In these six interconnected essays he offers a fresh approach to some long-standing problems. Papineau rejects the contemporary orthodoxy that genuine thought hinges on some species of non-natural normativity. He explores the evolutionary histories of theoretical and practical rationality, indicating ways in which capacities underlying human reasoning have been selected for their biological advantages. He then looks at the connection between decision and probability, explaining how good decisions need to be informed by causal as well as probabilistic facts. Finally he defends the radical view that a satisfactory understanding of decision-making is only possible within a specific interpretation of quantum mechanics. By placing the subject in its scientific context, Papineau shows how human rationality plays an explicable role in the functioning of the natural world.

General

Imprint:	Oxford UniversityPress
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	2006
First published:	March 2006
Authors:	David Papineau
Dimensions:	203 x 135 x 16mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	252
Edition:	New ed
ISBN-13:	978-0-19-928871-7
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Epistemology, theory of knowledge Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Philosophy of mind Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Philosophy & theory of psychology > General Books > Social sciences > Psychology > Cognition & cognitive psychology > Intelligence Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Epistemology, theory of knowledge Books > Philosophy > Topics in philosophy > Philosophy of mind Promotions
LSN:	0-19-928871-2
Barcode:	9780199288717

Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate? Let us know about it.

Does this product have an incorrect or missing image? Send us a new image.

Is this product missing categories? Add more categories.

Review This Product

No reviews yet - be the first to create one!