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Cognition and causality, fiction and explanation

W D Spaulding1

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 68588-0308, USA.

Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry
|September 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary

The causal efficacy of cognition is debated, focusing on explanatory fictions and proximal causality in behavior. Understanding causality depends on the explanation

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Area of Science:

  • Cognitive Science
  • Behavioral Science
  • Philosophy of Mind

Background:

  • The debate on cognitive causal efficacy addresses two key issues: the utility of explanatory fictions versus nonfictional behavioral explanations, and the possibility of describing proximal causality in behavior.
  • The choice between empirical and inferential explanations for behavior is context-dependent.

Discussion:

  • Explanatory fictions can enhance the utility of behavioral explanations, depending on their intended application.
  • The capacity of any explanation to describe proximal causality in behavior is contingent upon the broader theoretical framework of causality.
  • Modern biosystemic models emphasize multidirectional and reciprocal causality over simple linear causality in complex self-regulating systems.

Key Insights:

  • The effectiveness of explanatory fictions in behavioral science is application-specific.
  • Proximal causality in behavior is understood within larger paradigmatic contexts.
  • Complex self-regulating systems exhibit reciprocal causality, making linear models a limited perspective.

Outlook:

  • Future research should explore the nuanced roles of different causal models in understanding behavior.
  • Investigating the interplay between explanatory fictions and empirical data will refine behavioral science.
  • Further development of biosystemic models will illuminate complex causal relationships in living systems.

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