The Mind Is Flat

In The Mind Is Flat psychologist and cognitive scientist Nick Chater argues that the human mind is not a deep, hidden repository of rich inner representations but a shallow, improvised system that constructs thoughts, feelings and the sense of self on the fly. Drawing on evidence from cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience and behavioral economics, Chater challenges common assumptions about unconscious motives, a coherent inner self and reliable introspection, showing how much of what we take to be deep mental causes can be explained by surface patterns, context and post hoc rationalizations. The book examines the implications for free will, decision making and self-knowledge and offers a provocative, accessible alternative to traditional views of personality and the workings of the mind.