Binmore offers a recipe for making game theory work. He focuses on the most basic of its principles, about which many of the theory's critics are unaware, and captures their essence in observable terms, which theorists typically fail to do. Binmore develops the science of game theory by demonstrating that these fundamental principles are able to connect perplexing aspects of human behavior that can be captured by no other branch of science, and he does so through the implementation of laboratory methods that leave no question about how they operate.
In Relevance in Argumentation, author Douglas Walton presents a new method for critically evaluating arguments for relevance. This method enables a critic to judge whether a move can be said to be relevant or irrelevant, and is based on case studies of argumentation in which an argument, or part of an argument, has been criticized as irrelevant. Walton's method is based on a new theory of relevance that incorporates techniques of argumentation theory, logic, and artificial intelligence.
Useful Fictions: Evolution, Anxiety, and the Origins of Literature (Frontiers of Narrative)
Drawing on evolutionary biology, anthropology, narrative theory, cognitive psychology, game theory, and evolutionary aesthetics, Austin develops the concept of a "useful fiction," a simple narrative that serves an adaptive function unrelated to its factual accuracy. In his work we see how these useful fictions play a key role in neutralizing the overwhelming anxiety that humans can experience as their minds gather and process information. Rudimentary narratives constructed for this purpose, Austin suggests, provided a cognitive scaffold that might have become the basis for our well-documented love of fictional stories.
Phonology: A cognitive grammar introduction (Cognitive Linguistics in Practice)
This textbook introduces the reader to the field of phonology, from allophones to faithfulness and exemplars. It assumes no prior knowledge of the field, and includes a brief review chapter on phonetics. It is written within the framework of Cognitive Linguistics, but covers a wide range of historical and contemporary theories, from the Prague School to Optimality Theory. While many examples are based on American and British English, there are also discussions of some aspects of French and German colloquial speech and phonological analysis problems from many other languages around the world.
Now in its 8th edition, this text has been a landmark in its field for thirty years. It provides a totally up-to-date introduction to psychology for teachers. Thoroughly revised, this edition includes new coverage of gender and cultural diversity, behavioural problems, social development and the learning environment, and is more user-friendly than ever before with a new text design, including chapter outlines for easy dipping in and out, and with more emphasis on the concerns of the teacher and practical applications of theory. Professor Child covers all areas of education, from child development to motivation, human difference, special needs education, assessment and classroom management.