Psychosemantics: The problem of meaning in the philosophy of mind (Explorations in cognitive science)

Jerry A. Fodor

ISBN 10: 0262061066 / ISBN 13: 9780262061063

Published by MIT Press, 1987

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: Psychosemantics: The problem of meaning in the philosophy of mind (Explorations in cognitive science)
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Publication Date: 1987
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0262061066
• ISBN 13: 9780262061063
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: new

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Synopsis

Psychosemantics explores the relation between commonsense psychological theories and problems that are central to semantics and the philosophy of language.

Reviews

Cognitivism argues that psychology studies behavior to infer unobservable theoretical constructs, such as `belief,' that summarize and explain empirical observations and predict new phenomena. Here, Fodor tries to provide a scientific account of commonsense belief/desire psychology by defending a representational theory of mind. Assuming that there is no alternative to the vocabulary of commonsense psychological explanation, he proposes that we have an infinite set of mental symbols at our disposal and that a propositional attitude is equivalent to a symbol's occurring and its functioning in a particular causal role. Underlying his account is the view that mental processes will turn out to be physical processes. Highly recommended for philosophers of mind and cognitive psychologists. Robert Hoffman, Philosophy Department, York Coll., CUNY
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.