Philosophy of Mind: A Contemporary Introduction (Routledge Contemporary Introductions to Philosophy) - Softcover

Heil, John

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415283566 ISBN 13: 9780415283564

Publisher: Routledge, 2004

Synopsis

Philosophy of Mind: A Contemporary Introduction is a comprehensive and accessible survey of main themes, positions and debates in philosophy of mind. John Heil introduces and discusses the major topics in succinct, user-friendly, self-contained chapters:

* Cartesian dualism
* Descartes's legacy
* non-Cartesian dualism
* behaviorism
* the identity theory
* functionalism
* the representational theory of mind
* qualia
* radical interpretation
* the intentional stance
* eliminativism
* property dualism
* mind and metaphysics
* the mind's place in nature

This revised and updated edition includes expanded chapters on eliminativism, qualia, and the representational theory of mind, and an entirely new chapter on property dualism. There are annotated suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter, updated to include recent material and internet resources.

About this title

Review:

'I enjoyed reading this book immensely and think very hightly indeed of it both as a student text and as a serious work of philosophy. It is well-organized, well-informed, up-to-date, comprehensive in scope, and written in an extremely clear and accessible style.' - E. J. Lowe, Durham University, on the 1st edition 'It is pitched at the right level for undergraduates... The book reads as the work of a very good philosopher who wants to introduce students to the topic.' - Times Higher Education Supplement, on the 1st edition 'Contains some of the clearest and most penetrating discussions I have ever read of functionalism and of the interpretative accounts of Davidson and Dennett. This fact alone makes the book an appealing candidate for upper-level undergraduate courses.' - Philosophical Quarterley, on the 1st edition

Synopsis:

Philosophy of Mind: A Contemporary Introduction , is for students who have already completed an introductory philosophy course. The book covers the major topics typically studied in a philosophy of mind course and covers the dualist, behaviourist, functionalist, interpretationist, and eliminativist accounts of the nature of mind, along with a critical assessment of the recent trends in the subject. This fully revised and updated version of the highly successful first edition builds on the previously addressed themes and expands on central topics. The new edition includes: A brand new chapter on consciousness An expansion of the Davidson and Dennett discussions, splitting them into two stand-alone chapters A chapter looking at general issues associated with present day approaches to the theory of mind The book includes helpful examples to aid study as well as suggestions for further reading and a fully revised bibliography. It is ideal for anyone coming to philosophy of mind for the first time.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0415283566
• ISBN 13: 9780415283564
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 280