The Nature of the Mind: An Introduction

The Nature of the Mind is a comprehensive and lucid introduction to major themes in the philosophy of mind. It carefully explores the conflicting positions that have arisen within the debate and locates the arguments within their context. It is designed for newcomers to the subject and assumes no previous knowledge of the philosophy of mind. Clearly written and rigorously presented, this book is ideal for use in undergraduate courses in the philosophy of mind.
Main topics covered include:
* the problem of other minds
* the dualist/physicalist debate
* the nature of personal identity and survival
* mental-state concepts
The book closes with a number of pointers towards more advanced work in the subject. Study questions and suggestions for further reading are provided at the end of each chapter.
The Nature of the Mind is based on Peter Carruthers' book, Introducing Persons, also published by Routledge (1986).

Peter Carruthers is Professor and Chair of Philosophy at the University of Maryland. His recent books include Phenomenal Consciousness (2000), The Philosophy of Psychology (1999) and Language, Thought and Consciousness (1996).