Arguing About the Mind (Arguing About Philosophy) - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415771633 ISBN 13: 9780415771634

Publisher: Routledge, 2007

Synopsis

Arguing About the Mind is an accessible, engaging introduction to the core questions in the philosophy of mind. This collection offers a selection of thought-provoking articles that examine a broad range of issues from the mind and body relation to animal and artificial intelligence. Topics addressed include:

• the problem of consciousness
• the nature of the mind
• the relationship between the mind, body and world
• the notion of selfhood
• pathologies and behavioural problems
• animal, machine and extra-terrestrial intelligence.

The editors provide lucid introductions to each section, give an overview of the debate and outline the arguments of the papers. An original and stimulating reader, Arguing About the Mind is ideal for students new to the philosophy of mind.

About this title

About the Author

Brie Gertler is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Virginia, USA.

Larry Shapiro is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

From the Back Cover

Reviews
'I think this is brilliant. In conception and execution, the anthology does something which is both original and needed as a teaching resource ... the editors motivate the philosophical questions in a fresh and illuminating way, with an excellent choice of readings based around problems which will have occurred to most thoughtful philosophy students.' - Tim Crane, University College London, UK

'Arguing About the Mind makes use of original sources to introduce problems in the philosophy of mind in a way calculated to be intelligible to readers with no previous background in philosophy. By relying on readings intended for a broad audience, Gertler and Shapiro deftly sidestep technical disputes of the kind that too often deter students encountering serious philosophical writing for the first time. The result is a stunning topical introduction to philosophy via the philosophy of mind.' - John Heil, Washington University in St Louis, USA

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the Introduction

The mind holds a special interest for philosophers. Of course, the mind is implicated in every area of philosophy, as it is what we use to philosophize. But the mind also harbors mysteries -- about how consciousness relates to the physical world, whether we might someday construct artificial minds, what one's mind contributes to one's self, whether human thought is on a par with animal cognition -- that make it an irresistible target for philosophers in its own right.

You may wonder whether a philosopher has anything interesting to say about these questions. After all, they seem to fall within the purview of empirical science: cognitive psychology, neuroscience, linguistics, animal ethology, and computer science. Investigators in these areas develop an understanding of the mind through laboratory experiments and other means of empirical research. But according to a widespread stereotype, the only tool available to philosophers is reflection: they are like Rodin's thinker, staring unfixedly into the middle distance, trying to unravel abstract enigmas through pure thought.

What, then, can the philosopher contribute to an understanding of the mind? The articles in this volume provide a range of answers to this question. They exhibit philosophers at work, using distinctively philosophical methods to develop a variety of theories about how the mind operates, and how it relates to the non-mental world. They also present empirical work that both informs philosophical reflection on the mind and raises new issues for further philosophical scrutiny.

Together, these articles comprise a fresh approach to the philosophy of mind, introducing philosophical thought on questions about the mind that most of us pondered long before we took a philosophy course. The topics include issues squarely within the philosophical tradition, such as the relation between mind and body, and the nature of the self; but they also encompass more cutting-edge concerns, such as the lessons to be learned from mental pathologies, and the existence (and character) of animal or artificial intelligence. In assembling the anthology, we chose articles that are accessible, intrinsically interesting, and free from unnecessary jargon.

Each of the nine sections begins with a clear, engaging introduction to the questions it covers. The section introductions provide an overview of the topic at hand, and include questions to think about and suggestions for further reading. Although the nine sections of the book cover distinct topics and can be read in any order, they are also connected to each other that in ways that the section introductions explain.

As you read this book, we are confident that you will experience the type of intellectual exhilaration that has spurred us and others to join the search for a deeper understanding of the mind and its place in the world.

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0415771633
• ISBN 13: 9780415771634
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 624
• Editor: Brie Gertler, Lawrence Shapiro