Mind: A Brief Introduction"The philosophy of mind is unique among contemporary philosophical subjects," writes John Searle, "in that all of the most famous and influential theories are false." One of the world's most eminent thinkers, Searle dismantles these theories as he presents a vividly written, comprehensive introduction to the mind. He begins with a look at the twelve problems of philosophy of mind--which he calls "Descartes and Other Disasters"--problems which he returns to throughout the volume, as he illuminates such topics as materialism, consciousness, the mind-body problem, intentionality, mental causation, free will, and the self. The book offers a refreshingly direct and engaging introduction to one of the most intriguing areas of philosophy. |
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User Review - Jewsbury - LibraryThingIn a well-written book Searle brings a glimmer of sanity to the fractious debate about the mind as he shows how the most popular positions (such as material monism and Cartesian dualism) are untenable ... Read full review
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User Review - neurodrew - LibraryThingThe formal specification of the properties of conscious thought is a difficult subject, made more so by the dualism inherited from Descartes. How can a non-physical entity, as a mind is under dualism ... Read full review
Contents
The Turn to Materialism | |
Arguments against Materialism | |
The Structure of Consciousness and Neurobiology | |
Intentionality | |
Mental Causation | |
The Unconscious and the Explanation of Behavior | |
Perception | |
Philosophy and the Scientific WorldView | |
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Common terms and phrases
action actually answer argument aspectual shape behavior biological body brain processes called causal relations chapter Chinese Chinese Room cognitive compatibilism conception conditions of satisfaction conscious experiences conscious field crossed the Rubicon Descartes determined direct realism direction of fit distinction dualism entities epiphenomenalism exactly example exist explain fact feel function causally functionalist going human Hume Hume’s hypothesis idea identity theorists illusion intentional content intentionality irreducible material objects materialist mental causation mental phenomena mindbody problem molecules mysterians naïve realism necessary connection neurobiological neurobiological processes neurons notion ontological pain perceive perception personal identity philosophers philosophy of mind physical world postulate properties property dualism psychological qualitative question reason reduction rigid designator rule following seems sense data sort structure substance substance dualism supervenience suppose theory thing thirdperson thought token Turing machine Turing test unconscious mental understand
Bibliographic information
| Title | Mind: A Brief Introduction Fundamentals of Philosophy Series |
| Author | John R. Searle |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, 2004 |
| ISBN | 0199882681, 9780199882687 |
| Length | 336 pages |
| Subjects | › Philosophy / Mind & Body |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |