You can't have your hypothesis and test it: The importance of utilities in theories of reasoning

Mercier and Sperber's (M&S's) theory of reasoning cannot predict reasoning in the absence of an argumentative context. Applying the theory to hypothesis testing behavior, I propose that hypothesis testing is often motivated by determining the true inference and that reasoning models sh...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Behavioral and brain sciences 2011-04, Vol.34 (2), p.87-88
Main Author: Poletiek, Fenna H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bias
Heuristic
Hypotheses
Citations: Items that this one cites
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Mercier and Sperber's (M&S's) theory of reasoning cannot predict reasoning in the absence of an argumentative context. Applying the theory to hypothesis testing behavior, I propose that hypothesis testing is often motivated by determining the true inference and that reasoning models should account for utilities (affected by various motives, including the wish to convince) of reasoning outcomes.
ISSN:0140-525X
1469-1825
DOI:10.1017/S0140525X10002980