Representations. Philosophical Essays on the Foundations of Cognitive Science.

Fodor, Jerry A.

ISBN 10: 085527977X / ISBN 13: 9780855279776

Published by The Harvester Press, Brighton, Sussex, 1981

About this Item

Original hardcover, dustjacket. (12),344 pp.; 24x16 cm. Text in English. - (previous owner's name, 1 or 2 notes in ink) Although very good, see picture 740g.

Seller Inventory # 57269

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Representations. Philosophical Essays on the Foundations of Cognitive Science.
• Publisher: The Harvester Press, Brighton, Sussex
• Publication Date: 1981
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 085527977X
• ISBN 13: 9780855279776
• Binding: Hardcover
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included
• Weight: 740 grams
• Seller catalogs:
  • Taalkunde

About this title

Synopsis

A collection of eleven essays dealing with methodological and empirical issues in cognitive science and in the philosophy of mind, "Representations" convincingly connects philosophical speculation to concrete empirical research.One of the outstanding methodological issues dealt with is the status of "functionalism" considered as an alternative to behavioristic and physicalistic accounts. of mental states and properties. The other issue is the status of "reductionism" considered as an account of the relation between the psychological and physical sciences. The first chapters present the main lines of argument which have made functionalism the currently favored philosophical approach to ontology of the mental.The outlines of a psychology of propositional attitudes which emerges from consideration of current developments in cognitive science are contained in the remaining essays.Not all of these essays are "re-presentations." The new introductory essay seeks to present an overview and gives some detailed proposals about the contribution that functionalism makes to the solutions of problems about intentionality. The concluding essay, also not previously published, is a sustained examination of the relation between theories about the structure of concepts and theories about how they are learned. Finally, the essay "Three cheers for propositional attitudes," a critical examination of some of D. C. Dennett's ideas, has been completely rewritten for this volume." A Bradford Book. "

About the Author

Jerry Fodor is Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University. His many books include In Critical Condition (MIT Press, 1998) and The Elm and the Expert (MIT Press, 1994).