
The Foundations of Mind
Origins of conceptual thought
Jean Matter Mandler(Author)
Oxford University Press Inc
Published on 11. October 2007
Book
Paperback/Softback
376 pages
978-0-19-531183-9 (ISBN)
Description
In Foundations of the Mind, Jean Mandler presents a new theory of cognitive development in infancy, focusing on the processes through which perceptual information is transformed into concepts. Drawing on extensive research, Mandler explores preverbal conceptualisation and shows how it forms the basis for both thought and language. She also emphasises the importance of distinguishing automatic perceptual processes from attentive conceptualisation, and argues that these two kinds of learning follow different principles, so it is crucial to specify the processes required by a given task. Countering both strong nativist and empiricist views, Mandler provides a fresh and markedly different perspective on early cognitive development, painting a new picture of the abilities and accomplishments of infants and the development of the mind.
Reviews / Votes
"Mandler's book offers a powerful new synthesis on the emergence of cognitive capacities in infancy and early childhood. It is a compelling and important treatment of the origins of higher level thought from a cognitive science perspective. I would recommend it highly to anyone interested in cognition or cognitive development." -Frank C. Keil, Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, Yale University"The perceptual/conceptual debate about the origins of meaning in the human mind continues to rage in the cognitive sciences, a debate that Mandler confronts head on. A masterful overthrow of a number of entrenched Piagetian assumptions, this eloquently written book about the conceptual capacities of young infants and the roots of language and consciousness is backed by extensive, innovative experimental data." -Annette Karmiloff-Smith, Professor of
Neurocognitive Development and Head of Neurocognitive Development Unit, Institute of Child Health, London
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Developmental and cognitive psychologists
Illustrations
15 illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
570 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-531183-9 (9780195311839)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
05/2004
Oxford University Press Inc
€88.10
Shipment within 15-20 days

E-Book
05/2004
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€28.99
Available for download

E-Book
05/2004
1st Edition
OUP eBook
€28.99
Available for download
Person
Jean Matter Mandler is Distinguished Research Professor of Cognitive Science at the University of California San Diego. She is the author of Stories, Scripts, and Scenes (1984) and Thinking (1964).
Author
Research Professor of Cognitive ScienceResearch Professor of Cognitive Science, University of California, San Diego, USA
Content
1. How to Build a Baby ; 2. Piaget's Sensorimotor Infant ; 3. Kinds of Representation: Seeing and Thinking ; 4. Perceptual Meaning Analysis and Image-Schemas: The Infant as Interpreter ; 5. Some Image-Schemas and their Functions ; 6. Some Differences Between Percepts and Concepts: The Case of the Basic Level ; 7. Some Preverbal Concepts ; 8. Concepts as Induction Machines ; 9. Continuity in the Conceptual System: Acquisition, Breakdown, and Reorganization ; 10. Recall of the Past ; 11. Language Acquisition ; 12. Consciousness and Conclusions