Cognitive Science 2011
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Cognitive Science 2011 press.princeton.edu contents 1 general interest A Message from the Editor 4 psychology 5 social science It is with great pleasure that, on behalf of my colleagues at Princeton University Press, I introduce our inaugural cognitive 8 philosophy science catalog. The books here exemplify the quality of schol- 10 biology arship that we prize, and reflect the interdisciplinary approach that we take to publishing. Indeed, cognitive science—an in- 11 best of the backlist terdisciplinary field connecting research within the humanities, 13 index/order form social science, and science—is a natural fit for the Press. As demonstrated in the following pages, our cognitive science publishing includes work from psychologists and neurosci- entists, philosophers of mind, evolutionary biologists, and social scientists of all stripes. This catalog highlights recent and forthcoming books by established and diverse voices such as Max Bazerman and Ann Tenbrunsel, Patricia Churchland, Nicho- las Humphrey, Michael Corballis, Paul Thagard, Louise Barrett, and Thomas Seeley, as well as the newcomer Robert Kurzban, whom Steven Pinker calls “one of the best evolutionary psy- chologists of his generation.” Also featured here are important classic works by authors such as Frans de Waal, Jean-Pierre Changeux, Richard Gregory, Richard Thaler, Robert Shiller, Peter Singer, and Thomas Henry Huxley. Unifying all of these authors and books, past and present, is an effort to provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between the brain, the mind, individual behavior, social interaction, and social institutions. We believe that this catalog heralds a bright future for our cognitive science program, and we hope that within these pages you will find books and ideas that inspire and enlighten. We look forward to sharing this intellectual journey with you, and thank you for your support. Eric I. Schwartz, Ph.D. Editor, Sociology & Cognitive Science Cover image from The Brain and the Meaning of Life by Paul Thagard, see page 3. Forthcoming Blind Spots Why We Fail to Do What’s Right and What to Do about It Max H. Bazerman & Ann E. Tenbrunsel When confronted with an ethical dilemma, most of us like to think we would stand up for our principles. But we are not as ethical as we think we are. In Blind Spots, leading business ethicists Max Bazerman and Ann Tenbrunsel examine the ways we overestimate our ability to do what is right and how we act unethically without meaning to. From the collapse of Enron and corruption in the to- bacco industry, to sales of the defective Ford Pinto and the downfall of Bernard Madoff, the authors investigate the nature of ethical failures in the business world and beyond, and illustrate how we can become more ethical, bridging the gap between who we are Max H. Bazerman is the and who we want to be. Jesse Isidor Straus Professor of Business Administration at Suggesting innovative individual and group tactics for improving the Harvard Business School. human judgment, Blind Spots shows us how to secure a place for Ann E. Tenbrunsel is the Rex ethics in our workplaces, institutions, and daily lives. and Alice A. Martin Professor April 2011. 216 pages. 10 line illus. of Business Ethics at the Cl: 978-0-691-14750-5 $24.95 | £16.95 Mendoza College of Business, University of Notre Dame. Forthcoming Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite Evolution and the Modular Mind Robert Kurzban “In this amazing book, Robert Kurzban carries out a brilliantly thought-provoking conversation with himself that made me think hard—and laugh out loud. Using clever examples and a revolution- ary scientific approach, he shows that contradiction is truly a funda- mental human experience. No wonder, then, that I wanted to share this book with my friends—but I also wanted to keep it for myself! If you don’t read this book, you’ll be left wondering what everybody (else) is talking about.” —James H. Fowler, coauthor of Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives We’re all hypocrites. Why? Hypocrisy is the natural state of the hu- man mind. Robert Kurzban is associate In clear language, full of wit and rich in examples, Kurzban explains professor of psychology at the the roots and implications of our inconsistent minds, and why it is University of Pennsylvania. perfectly natural to believe that everyone else is a hypocrite. February 2011. 288 pages. 2 halftones. 1 line illus. Cl: 978-0-691-14674-4 $27.95 | £19.95 To receive notices about new books, subscribe for email at press.princeton.edu/subscribe press.princeton.edu general interest • 1 FoRTHCoMING Forthcoming Braintrust Soul Dust What Neuroscience Tells Us about Morality The Magic of Consciousness Patricia S. Churchland Nicholas Humphrey What is morality? How is consciousness Where does it come possible? What bio- from? And why do logical purpose does most of us heed its it serve? And why do call most of the time? we value it so highly? In Braintrust, neuro- In Soul Dust, the psy- philosophy pioneer chologist Nicholas Patricia Churchland Humphrey, a leading argues that morality figure in consciousness originates in the biol- research, proposes a ogy of the brain. She startling new theory. describes the “neuro- Consciousness, he biological platform of bonding” that, modified by argues, is nothing less than a magical-mystery evolutionary pressures and cultural values, has show that we stage for ourselves inside our own led to human styles of moral behavior. The result heads. This self-made show lights up the world is a provocative genealogy of morals that asks for us and makes us feel special and transcen- us to reevaluate the priority given to religion, dent. Thus consciousness paves the way for absolute rules, and pure reason in accounting for spirituality, and allows us, as human beings, to the basis of morality. reap the rewards, and anxieties, of living in what Humphrey calls the “soul niche.” Patricia Churchland is professor emerita of phi- losophy at the University of California, San Diego, Nicholas Humphrey has held posts at oxford and and an adjunct professor at the Salk Institute. Cambridge universities, and is now professor emeritus of psychology at the London School of April 2011. 264 pages.1 halftone.12 line illus. Cl: 978-0-691-13703-2 $24.95 | £16.95 Economics. March 2011. 256 pages. 17 halftones. 1 table. Cl: 978-0-691-13862-6 $24.95 | £16.95 Forthcoming Not for sale in the Commonwealth (except Canada) The Recursive Mind The origins of Human Thought, Language, and Civilization Michael C. Corballis “This is a wonderful book by an expert writer. Corballis tracks the impor- tance of recursion in the context of language, theory of mind, and mental time travel, and concludes that its emergence explains much about how we became human. He proposes a novel answer to an enduring mystery. This book is a significant achievement.” —Thomas Suddendorf, University of Queensland The Recursive Mind challenges the commonly held notion that language is what makes us uniquely human. In this compelling book, Michael Corballis argues that what distinguishes us in the animal kingdom is our capacity for recursion: the ability to embed our thoughts within other thoughts. Michael C. Corballis is professor emeritus of psychology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. June 2011. 288 pages. 6 halftones. 9 line illus. 2 maps. Cl: 978-0-691-14547-1 $29.95 | £20.95 2 • general interest Forthcoming New Beyond the Brain The Brain and the Meaning of Life How Body and Environment Shape Paul Thagard Animal and Human Minds Louise Barrett “[Thagard] offers a tightly reasoned, often When a chimpanzee humorous, and original stockpiles rocks as contribution to the weapons or when a emerging practice frog sends out mating of applying science calls, we might easily to areas heretofore assume these animals the province of phi- know their own moti- losophers, theologians, vations—that they use ethicists, and politi- the same psychological cians: What is reality mechanisms that we and how can we know do. But as Beyond the it? Are mind and brain one or two? What is the Brain indicates, this is source of the sense of self? What is love? What is a dangerous assumption because animals have the difference between right and wrong, and how different evolutionary trajectories, ecological can we know it? What is the most legitimate form niches, and physical attributes. How do these dif- of government? What is the meaning of life, and ferences influence animal thinking and behavior? how can we find happiness in it? Thagard employs Removing our human-centered spectacles, Louise the latest tools and findings of science in his at- Barrett investigates the mind and brain and offers tempts to answer these (and additional) questions.” an alternative approach for understanding animal —Michael Shermer, Science and human cognition. Paul Thagard is professor of philosophy, psychol- Louise Barrett is a professor in the psychology ogy, and computer science at the University of department at the University of Lethbridge. Waterloo, Canada. May 2011. 248 pages. 15 line illus. 2010. 296 pages. 12 line illus. Cl: 978-0-691-12644-9 $29.95 | £20.95 Cl: 978-0-691-14272-2 $29.95 | £20.95 New Honeybee Democracy Thomas D. Seeley “Honeybee Democracy is a sheer delight. Seeley, a superb scientist and a gifted communicator, shares fascinating learning and lessons from his splendid work with these remarkable insects. His enthusiasm is infectious and he persuasively shows that there is a great deal humans can gain from studying swarm smarts. I love this book and recommend it highly.” —Michael J. Mauboussin, author of Think Twice: Harnessing the Power of Counterintuition An impressive exploration of animal behavior, Honeybee Democracy shows that decision-making groups, whether honeybee or human, can be smarter than even the smartest individuals in them.