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CHOICE Review

Sometimes interdisciplinary interaction really works. In this instance a philosopher, a cognitive psychologist, a social psychologist, and a computer scientist have shared their special view of induction and created a remarkably unified discussion with unusual breadth. Although the specific formulation of the model is rather strained, introducing terms like ``quasi-morphisms'' and ``default hierarchies,'' the subsequent application to a variety of phenomena should fascinate any student of psychology. Like Jonathan Baron in Rationality and Intelligence (CH, Apr '86), this book argues that good decision making can be taught-and gives a clear idea of just how it might be done. The book argues that induction illuminates behavior from rats pressing bars to scientists developing theories, accommodating behavior more comfortably than what currently passes for cognitive theory. The subject matter touches J.R. Anderson's The Architecture of Cognition (CH, Nov '83) and Robert Sternberg's still important Intelligence, Information Processing, and Analogic Reasoning (1977). Most importantly, Induction sets a new standard for such work.-P.L. Derks, College of William and Mary