Change in View: Principles of Reasoning

Change in View: Principles of Reasoning examines how people revise their beliefs and views through reasoning. Harman challenges traditional logic-based approaches to reasoning and argues for a more psychologically realistic account of how humans actually modify their beliefs. The book presents principles for belief revision and explores concepts like inference, implication, and deduction. Through analysis of real-world examples and theoretical scenarios, Harman demonstrates how people maintain coherent belief systems while incorporating new information. Throughout the text, Harman addresses foundational questions about the relationship between logic and reasoning, the role of probability in belief formation, and the ways humans handle conflicting evidence. The work draws on research from philosophy, psychology, and cognitive science. This philosophical investigation offers insights into the nature of human rationality and the gap between formal logic and actual reasoning practices. The principles Harman develops have implications for epistemology, critical thinking, and our understanding of human cognition.

Readers note the book's clear explanations of inference and reasoning principles, particularly appreciating how Harman challenges traditional approaches to logic and belief revision. Philosophy students find it helpful for understanding epistemic concepts. Liked: - Accessible writing style for a complex topic - Strong arguments against foundationalism - Practical examples that illustrate abstract concepts - Clear analysis of belief change processes Disliked: - Some sections are repetitive - Arguments could be more fully developed - Limited engagement with opposing views - Technical language makes some chapters dense Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (16 ratings) Amazon: No ratings available Reviews are limited since this is an academic philosophy text. One Goodreads reviewer praised how it "presents complex ideas about reasoning in an approachable way." Another noted it "could benefit from more detailed counterarguments to strengthen the overall thesis."

Thinking and Deciding by Jonathan Baron This text examines the cognitive processes and biases in human reasoning through empirical research and philosophical analysis.

Rationality in Action by John Searle The book presents a systematic theory of rational decision-making and explores the connection between reason, belief, and action.

The Web of Belief by W.V.O. Quine and J.S. Ullian This work investigates how beliefs form interconnected networks and how reasoning leads to belief revision.

Judgment Under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases by Daniel Kahneman The text compiles research on cognitive shortcuts humans use in reasoning and decision-making processes.

Reason in Philosophy: Animating Ideas by Robert Brandom This book explores the nature of reasoning through the lens of philosophical pragmatism and inferentialism.

🔖 Gilbert Harman wrote this influential work on reasoning theory while serving as Professor of Philosophy at Princeton University, where he has taught since 1963 📚 The book challenges traditional logic's role in understanding how people actually reason, arguing that deduction and logic aren't as central to human reasoning as many philosophers had assumed 🎓 The text introduced the concept of "belief revision" to philosophical discourse, which later became crucial in artificial intelligence and cognitive science research 💭 Harman's work was among the first to propose that people don't typically use formal logical rules when thinking, but rather employ more practical principles of inference and reasoning 📖 The book's central ideas have influenced fields beyond philosophy, including computer science, particularly in the development of non-monotonic reasoning systems and belief revision algorithms