Book review: Not Bayesian enough. Rationality in an Uncertain World: Essays on the Cognitive Science of Human Reasoning. Mike Oaksford and Nick Chater. Psychology Press, Hove, Sussex, 1998. No. of pages 336. ISBN 0-86377-534-9

2000 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-98
Author(s):  
David Over
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Science ◽  
Human Reasoning

scholarly journals The uncertain reasoner: Bayes, logic, and rationality

2009 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mike Oaksford ◽  
Nick Chater
Keyword(s):  
Probability Theory ◽  
Cognitive Science ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Uncertain Reasoning ◽  
Human Reasoning ◽  
Reasoning Abilities ◽  
Rational Explanation ◽  
Everyday Reasoning ◽  
The Right ◽  
Bayesian Rationality

AbstractHuman cognition requires coping with a complex and uncertain world. This suggests that dealing with uncertainty may be the central challenge for human reasoning. InBayesian Rationalitywe argue that probability theory, the calculus of uncertainty, is the right framework in which to understand everyday reasoning. We also argue that probability theory explains behavior, even on experimental tasks that have been designed to probe people's logical reasoning abilities. Most commentators agree on the centrality of uncertainty; some suggest that there is a residual role for logic in understanding reasoning; and others put forward alternative formalisms for uncertain reasoning, or raise specific technical, methodological, or empirical challenges. In responding to these points, we aim to clarify the scope and limits of probability and logic in cognitive science; explore the meaning of the “rational” explanation of cognition; and re-evaluate the empirical case for Bayesian rationality.

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