The making of human concepts
By: edited by Denis Mareschal, Paul C. Quinn, Stephen E. G. Lea.
Contributors: Mareschal, Denis.; Quinn, Paul C.; Lea, S. E. G., 1946-
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 400
ISBN-13: 9780199549221
Subjects: Concepts; Cognition; Thought and thinking
Description: "This book tackles the age-old puzzle of what might be unique about human concepts. Intuitively, we have a sense that our thoughts are somehow different from those of animals and young children such as infants. Yet, if true, this raises the question of where and how this uniqueness arises. What are the factors that have played out during the life course of the individual and over the evolution of humans that have contributed to the emergence of this apparently unique ability? This volume brings together a collection of world specialists who have grappled with these questions from different perspectives to try to resolve the issue. It includes contributions from leading psychologists, neuroscientists, child and infant specialists, and animal cognition specialists. Taken together, this story leads to the idea that there is no unique ingredient in the emergence of human concepts, but rather a powerful and potentially unique mix of biological abilities and personal and social history that has led to where the human mind now stands."--Jacket.