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Suppositions, extensionality, and conditionals: A critique of the mental model theory of Johnson-Laird and Byrne (2002)

Evans, J.S.B.T.; Over, D.E.; Handley, S.J.

Authors

J.S.B.T. Evans

D.E. Over

S.J. Handley



Abstract

P. N. Johnson-Laird and R. M. J. Byrne (see record 2002-18225-002) proposed an influential theory of conditionals in which mental models represent logical possibilities and inferences are drawn from the extensions of possibilities that are used to represent conditionals. In this article, the authors argue that the extensional semantics underlying this theory is equivalent to that of the material, truth-functional conditional, at least for what they term "basic" conditionals, concerning arbitrary problem content. On the basis of both logical argument and psychological evidence, the authors propose that this approach is fundamentally mistaken and that conditionals must be viewed within a suppositional theory based on what philosophical logicians call the Ramsey test. The Johnson-Laird and Byrne theory is critically examined with respect to its account of basic conditionals, nonbasic conditionals, and counterfactuals.

Citation

Evans, J., Over, D., & Handley, S. (2005). Suppositions, extensionality, and conditionals: A critique of the mental model theory of Johnson-Laird and Byrne (2002). Psychological Review, 112(4), 1040-1052. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.112.4.1040

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Oct 1, 2005
Deposit Date Jan 22, 2009
Journal Psychological Review
Print ISSN 0033-295X
Publisher American Psychological Association
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 112
Issue 4
Pages 1040-1052
DOI https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.112.4.1040
Keywords Conditionals, Mental models, Suppositional conditional, Counterfactuals, Probability, Logic, Inference, Deduction, Premises, Thinking, Bias.