Thinking about thinking about time. (12th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Redshaw, Jonathan; Bulley, Adam; Suddendorf, Thomas
• Is Part Of: Behavioral and brain sciences. Volume 42(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-12-12
• Subjects: Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Brain -- Periodicals; 616.89142
• DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X19000414
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-525X

Abstract

Abstract: Hoerl & McCormack (H&M) discuss the possible function of meta-representations in temporal cognition but ultimately take an agnostic stance. Here we outline the fundamental role that we believe meta-representations play. Because humans know that their representations of future events are just representations, they are in a position to compensate for the shortcomings of their own foresight and to prepare for multiple contingencies.