Emergent Materialism: A Proposed Solution to the Mind/body ProblemSelton L. Peters has created a significant book by presenting a complete emergentist view of mind which attempts to answer some of the major objections against traditional materialism. Particular contrast is made between this emergentist view and the Mind-Body Identity Theory. Topics include: the identity of mental and physical events, the question of the existence of irreducibly psychic properties, the function of consciousness, and the problem of personal identity. Peters also gives glimpses into future possibilities which may be realized as mankind continues to evolve. This book is particularly appropriate for graduate seminars or upper division courses in philosophy of mind, and for metaphysics or introductory philosophy courses. |
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after-image Anthony Quinton appear argument aware behavior believe Borst brain processes category mistake causal efficacy Chapter claim color correlated criterion cross-category identity Descartes developed directly perceive dualistic emergent epiphenomenalism exist experience explanation external physical objects fact Furthermore G.F. Stout Herbert Feigl human body Ibid identity of mental Identity Theory instantiated introspection irreducibly mental irreducibly psychic properties J.J.C. Smart Jaegwon Kim James Cornman Leibniz's Law light living brain living conscious brain materialist memories mental activity mental and physical mental events mental phenomena mental properties mind and body mind-body problem Morning Star nature Norman Malcolm occur ontological P.F. Strawson perceptual consciousness philosophical sense physical events physical properties physical realm physical things physical world predicates properties connoted properties or features psychic and physical psychophysical event qualities sensations sense-qualities sort of thing spatial location strict and philosophical strict personal identity sufficient condition thinking thing time-gap ultimate constituents visual perception yellowish-orange yellowy-orange