This series will include monographs and collections of studies devoted
to the investigation and exploration of knowledge, information, and
data-processing systems of all kinds, no matter whether human, (other)
animal, or machine. Its scope is intended to span the full range of
interests from classical problems in the philosophy of mind and
philosophical psychology through issues in cognitive psychology and
sociobiology (concerning the mental capabilities of other species) to
ideas related to artificial intelligence and computer science. While
primary emphasis will be placed upon theoretical, conceptual, and
epistemological aspects of these problems and domains, empirical,
experimental, and methodological studies will also appear from time to
time. While most philosophers and psychologists tend to believe that the
rise of cognitive psychology has occurred concomitant with the decline
of operant psychology, Terry L. Smith contends that nothing could be
further from the truth. He maintains that operant psychology has
discovered (and continues to discover) reasonably well-confirmed causal
principles of intentional behavior, which go beyond what cognitive
psychology can provide, while cognitive psychology, in tum, has the
potential to supply analyses (and explanations) that account for them.
Smith thus advances a surprising but nonetheless illuminating
perspective for appreciating the place of operant conditioning within
the discipline of psychology in this rich and fascinating work. J. H. F.
