Decision Making and Modelling in Cognitive Science

This book discusses the paradigm of quantum ontology as an appropriate model for measuring cognitive processes. It clearly shows the inadequacy of the application of classical probability theory in modelling the human cognitive domain. The chapters invest

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Decision Making and Modelling in Cognitive Science

Decision Making and Modelling in Cognitive Science

Sisir Roy

Decision Making and Modelling in Cognitive Science

123

Sisir Roy National Institute of Advanced Studies, IISc Campus Bengaluru, Karnataka India

ISBN 978-81-322-3620-7 DOI 10.1007/978-81-322-3622-1

ISBN 978-81-322-3622-1

(eBook)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2016948803 © Springer India 2016 This work is subject to copyright. All rights are reserved by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publisher, the authors and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. Printed on acid-free paper This Springer imprint is published by Springer Nature The registered company is Springer (India) Pvt. Ltd. The registered company address is: 7th Floor, Vijaya Building, 17 Barakhamba Road, New Delhi 110 001, India

Foreword

Decision making is a hot topic in the cognitive neurosciences, with several applications in the practical human sciences. If humans is not the rational agent assumed by the classics of the science of economics, is he then an irrational one, as some authors have recently claimed? The answer could be stated in this manner: it may be the case that we are not irrational, but follow a quantum-probabilistic kind of rule. In this book, Sisir Roy deeply investigates the logic of human decision making, arguing that the probability calculus, which is similar to the formalism of quantum theory, better describes and simulates human decision making. Classical logic and probability theory would not account for how human beings really make decisions in everyday life. If human rationality is to be conceived according to quantum theory, which interpretation of the theory should be selected? There are so many interpretations that, depending on a particular one, this may not be a good choice. The book overcomes this problem by going beyond a purely epistemological view—as in the case of the Copenhagen interpretations–towards an encompassing theory of reality based on quantum theory, i.e., “quantum ontology”. The theoretical path followed by Sisir Roy contains an excursion through quantum