{"product_id":"the-missing-link-in-cognition-origins-of-selfreflective-consciousness-9780195161564","title":"The Missing Link in Cognition: Origins of Self-Reflective Consciousness","description":"\u003cp\u003eAre humans unique in having self-reflective consciousness? Or can precursors to this central form of human consciousness be found in non-human species? The Missing Link in Cognition brings together a diverse group of researchers who have been investigating this question from a variety of perspectives  including the extent to which non-human primates  and  indeed  young children  have consciousness  a sense of self  thought process  metacognitions  and representations. Some of the participants--Kitcher  Higgins  Nelson  and Tulving--argue that these types of cognitive abilities are uniquely human  whereas others--Call  Hampton  Kinsbourne  Menzel  Metcalfe  Schwartz  Smith  and Terrace--are convinced that at least the precursors to self-reflective consciousness exist in non-human primates.  Their debate focuses primarily on the underpinnings of consciousness. Some of the participants believe that consciousness depends on representational thought and on the mental manipulation of such representations. Is representational thought enough to ensure consciousness  or does one need more? If one needs more  exactly what is needed? Is reflection upon the representations  that is  metacognition  the link? Does a realization of the contingencies  that is  \"knowing that \" in Gilbert Ryles terminology  ensure that a person or an animal is conscious? Is true episodic memory needed for consciousness  and if so  do any animals have it? Is it possible to have episodic memory or  indeed  any self-reflective processing  without language?  Other participants believe that consciousness is inextricably intertwined with a sense of self or self-awareness. From where does this sense of self or self-awareness arise? Some of the participants believe that it develops only through the use of language and the narrative form. If it does develop in this way  what about claims of a sense of self or self-awareness in non-human animals? Others believe that the autobiographical record implied by episodic memory is fundamental. To what extent must non-human animals have the linguistic  metacognitive  and\/or representational abilities to develop a sense of self or self-awareness? These and other related concerns are crucial in this volumes lively debate over the nature of the missing cognitive link  and whether gorillas  chimps  or other species might be more like humans than many have supposed.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45651947585589,"sku":"ByrdShop_0195161564","price":78.06,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780195161564.jpg?v=1781846943","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/the-missing-link-in-cognition-origins-of-selfreflective-consciousness-9780195161564","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}