The Puzzle Instinct

The Meaning of Puzzles in Human Life

Marcel Danesi (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

288 Seiten

2004
Indiana University Press (Verlag)
978-0-253-21708-0 (ISBN)

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What is the necessary raison d'etre that puzzles serve? Why did they emerge at the same time in history as myth, magic and the occult arts? And why can't we put them down? This book presents an exploration of the philosophical implications of the puzzle instinct.

"Humans are the only animals who create and solve puzzles—for the sheer pleasure of it—and there is no obvious genetic reason why we would do this. Marcel Danesi explores the psychology of puzzles and puzzling, with scores of classic examples. His pioneering book is both entertaining and enlightening." —Will Shortz, Crossword Editor, The New York Times
". . . Puzzle fanatics will enjoy the many riddles, illusions, cryptograms and other mind-benders offered for analysis." —Psychology Today
". . . a bristlingly clear . . . always intriguing survey of the history and rationale of puzzles. . . . [A] splendid study. . . ." —Knight Ridder Newspapers

Marcel Danesi is Professor of Semiotics and Anthropology at the University of Toronto and Director of the Program in Semiotics and Communication Theory. His books include Increase Your Puzzle IQ and Of Cigarettes, High Heels, and Other Interesting Things: An Introduction to Semiotics. He lives in Toronto.

Preface
1. Why Puzzles?
2. Puzzling Language: Riddles, Anagrams, and Other Verbal Perplexities
3. Puzzling Pictures: Optical Illusions, Mazes, and Other Visual Mind-Bogglers
4. Puzzling Logic: Deductions, Paradoxes, and Other Forms of Mind Play
5. Puzzling Numbers: Magic Squares, Cryptarithms, and Other Mathematical Recreations
6. Puzzling Games: Chess, Checkers, and Other Games
7. The Puzzle of Life
Solutions
Bibliography and General Reading List
Index

Verlagsort	Bloomington, IN
Sprache	englisch
Maße	156 x 235 mm
Gewicht	367 g
Themenwelt	Geisteswissenschaften ► Philosophie ► Sprachphilosophie
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Allgemeine Psychologie
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie ► Verhaltenstherapie
	Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik
ISBN-10	0-253-21708-3 / 0253217083
ISBN-13	978-0-253-21708-0 / 9780253217080
Zustand	Neuware