Actual Minds, Possible Worlds

Jerome Bruner's *Actual Minds, Possible Worlds* stands as a pivotal work, marking a significant reorientation in the study of the mind. As a leading figure in the cognitive revolution, Bruner here challenges the prevailing, overly narrow focus on the logical and systematic aspects of cognition, which he argues have dominated cognitive science. Instead, he champions the "narrative mode," the inherently human capacity for imagination that imbues experience with meaning through stories, myths, drama, and history. This book meticulously explores the mental processes involved in creating these "possible worlds," demonstrating their foundational role across human endeavors from science and literature to philosophy and our very sense of self. This volume unequivocally belongs on any list of Bruner's best books due to its ambitious scope and profound impact. It represents a mature articulation of ideas he first explored in *On Knowing: Essays for the Left Hand*, significantly expanding upon them with rich, empirical examples that illustrate how the narrative mode can be rigorously studied. By integrating insights from diverse fields such as literary theory, linguistics, and anthropology with psychology, Bruner offers a more holistic and humane understanding of how the mind functions. *Actual Minds, Possible Worlds* not only provides a crucial counterpoint to purely computational models of cognition but also offers a compelling vision for a more nuanced and subtle approach to investigating the complexities of human thought and experience.