The Foundations of Mind Origins of Conceptual Thought [Hardcover]

InThe Foundations of Mind, Jean Mandler presents a new theory of cognitive development in infancy, focusing on the processes through which perceptual information is transformed into concepts. Drawing on her extensive research, Mandler explores preverbal conceptualization and shows how it forms the basis for both thought and language. She also emphasizes the importance of distinguishing automatic perceptual processes from attentive conceptualization, and argues that these two kinds of learning follow different principles, so it is crucial to specify the processes required by a given task. Countering both strong nativist and empiricist views, Mandler provides a fresh and markedly different perspective on early cognitive development, painting a new picture of the abilities and accomplishments of infants and the development of the mind.

Chapter 1. How to Build a Baby: Prologue
Chapter 2. Piagets Sensorimotor Infant
Chapter 3. Kinds of Representation: Seeing and Thinking
Chapter 4. Perceptual Meaning Analysis and Image-Schemas: The Infant as Interpreter
Chapter 5. Some Image-Schemas and their Functions
Chapter 6. Some Differences between Percepts and Concepts: The Case of the Basic Level
Chapter 7. Some Preverbal Conceptsptual System: Acquisition,
Chapter 9. Continuity in the Conceptual System: Acquisition, Breakdown, and Reorganization
Chapter 10.
Chapter 11. Language Acquisitionnclusions; References; Index
Chapter 12. Consciousness and Conclusions; References; Index

Mandler's book offers a powerful new synthesis on the emergence of cognitive capacities in infancy and early childhood. It is a compelling and important treatment of the origins of higher level thought from a cognitive science perspective. I would recommend it highly to anyone interested in cognition or cognitive development. -Frank C. Keil, Professor of Psychology and Linguistics, Yale University

The perceptual/conceptual debate ablC‘