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The role of language in the dual process theory of thinking

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 August 2003

Jonathan St. B. T. Evans
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Centre for Thinking and Language, University of Plymouth, Plymouth PL4 8AA, UKjevans@plym.ac.uk
David E. Over
Affiliation:
University of Sunderland

Abstract

Carruthers’proposals would seem to implicate language in what is known as System 2 thinking (explicit) rather than System 1 thinking (implicit) in contemporary dual process theories of thinking and reasoning. We provide outline description of these theories and show that while Carruthers’characterization of non-verbal processes as domain-specific identifies one critical feature of System 1 thinking, he appears to overlook the fact that much cognition of this type results from domain-general learning processes. We also review cognitive psychological evidence that shows that language and the explicit representations it supports are heavily involved in supporting System 1 thinking, but falls short of supporting his claim that it is the medium in which domain-general thinking occurs.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

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