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E-book
Author White, Peter A. (Peter Anthony), 1954-

Title Psychological metaphysics / Peter A. White
Published London : Routledge, 2017

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Description 1 online resource (xi, 324 pages) : illustrations
Series Psychology library editions. Perception ; v. 33
Psychology library editions. Perception ; v. 33
Contents pt. 1. General psychological metaphysics -- pt. 2. Psychological metaphysics of the physical world -- pt. 3. Psychological metaphysics of the mind
Summary 'Psychological Metaphysics' incorporates not only research and theory in social cognition and developmental psychology, but also philosophy and the history of ideas. It will be challenging to everyone interested in how we try to understand the world. The research literature on causal attribution and social cognition generally consists of many fascinating but fragmented and superficial phenomena. These can only be understood as an organised whole by elucidating the fundamental psychological assumptions on which they depend. Originally published in 1993, Psychological Metaphysics is an exploration of the most basic and important assumptions in the psychological construction of reality, with the aim of showing what they are, how they originate, and what they are there for. Peter A. White proposes that people basically understand causation in terms of stable, specific powers of things operating to produce effects under suitable conditions. This underpins an analysis of people's understanding of causal processes in the physical word and of human action, which makes a radical break with the Heiderian tradition. Psychological Metaphysics suggests that causal attribution is in the service of the person's practical concerns and any interest in accuracy or understanding is subservient to this. A notion of regularity in the world is of no more than minor importance in causal attribution, and social cognition is not so much a matter of cognitive mechanisms or processes but more of cultural ways of thinking imposed upon tacit, unquestioned, universal assumptions. Psychological Metaphysics incorporates not only research and theory in social cognition and developmental psychology, but also philosophy and the history of ideas. It will be challenging to everyone interested in how we try to understand the world
Notes Originally published in 1993 by Routledge
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 301-312) and indexes
Notes Print version record
Subject Social perception -- Philosophy
Metaphysics -- Psychological aspects
Knowledge, Sociology of.
Attribution (Social psychology)
Concepts.
sociology of knowledge.
PSYCHOLOGY -- Social Psychology.
Attribution (Social psychology)
Concepts
Knowledge, Sociology of
Metaphysics -- Psychological aspects
Social perception -- Philosophy
Form Electronic book
ISBN 9781315473574
1315473577
9781315473550
1315473550
9781315473567
1315473569
9781315473543
1315473542