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Causal Thinking

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Part of the book series: On Thinking ((ONTHINKING))

Abstract

The ability to acquire and reason with causal knowledge belongs to our most central cognitive competencies. Causal knowledge serves various functions: It enables us to predict future events, to diagnose the causes of observed events, and to choose the right actions to achieve our goals. The chapter gives an overview of the causal-model approach to causal reasoning and learning. It focuses on the contrast between traditional associationist theories and this more recent rational approach to causal thinking, and discusses this theory in light of recent experimental evidence.

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Correspondence to Michael R. Waldmann .

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Waldmann, M.R. (2010). Causal Thinking. In: Glatzeder, B., Goel, V., Müller, A. (eds) Towards a Theory of Thinking. On Thinking. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-03129-8_8

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