Type of Document Master's Thesis Author Kvaran, Trevor Hannesson URN etd-08032007-161242 Title Dual-Process Theories and the Rationality Debate: Contributions From Cognitive Neuroscience Degree Master of Arts Department Philosophy Advisory Committee
Advisor Name Title Andrea Scarantino Committee Co-Chair Eddy Nahmias Committee Co-Chair Erin McClure Committee Member Keywords
- Decision-Making
- Neuroeconomics
- Rationality
- Investigative Kinds
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Date of Defense 2007-07-13 Availability unrestricted Abstract The past 40 years have seen an enormous amount of research aimed at investigating human reasoning and decision-making abilities. This research has led to an extended debate about the extent to which humans meet the standards of normative theories of rationality. Recently, it has been proposed that dual-process theories, which posit that there are two distinct types of cognitive systems, offer a way to resolve this debate over human rationality. I will propose that the two systems of dual-process theories are best understood as investigative kinds. I will then examine recent empirical research from the cognitive neuroscience of decision-making that lends empirical support to the theoretical claims of dual-process theorists. I will lastly argue that dual-process theories not only offer an explanation for much of the conflicting data seen in decision-making and reasoning research, but that they ultimately offer reason to be optimistic about the prospects of human rationality.Files
Filename Size Approximate Download Time (Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
28.8 Modem 56K Modem ISDN (64 Kb) ISDN (128 Kb) Higher-speed Access Kvaran_Trevor_H_2007Summer_MA.pdf 249.42 Kb 00:01:09 00:00:35 00:00:31 00:00:15 00:00:01