An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind

by Keith T. Maslin

An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind provides a lively and accessible introduction to all the main themes and arguments currently being debated in this area. The book examines and criticizes four major theories of Dualism, Mind/Brain Identity, Behaviourism and Functionalism.
It argues that while consciousness and our mental lives depend upon physical processes in the brain, they are not reducible to those processes. The differences between mental and physical states, mind/body causality, the problem of other minds, and personal identity are also explored in full. The second edition of this well respected text has been revised to include a new chapter which explores Aristotle’s philosophy of psychology and mind. It also includes new material on the Turing test and has been expanded and updated throughout. The book is designed to help students think for themselves about all the issues identified above, and contains exercises throughout the text to stimulate and challenge the reader. Objectives are clearly set out at the start of every chapter to enable students to check their understanding as they proceed, and each chapter ends with questions to consider. There are discussions of the most cited contemporary writers in the field, so that the reader can gain a rounded perspective of the debates.

Genres: Philosophy

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2001

Reviews

[Tirdad · Rating 2 out of 5]

کتاب مرور‌ی است گذرا بر مباحث اصلی فلسفه ذهن، هرچند تمام مباحث را پوشش نمی‌دهد. شیوه طرح مباحث به گونه‌ای است که پس از طرح ایده‌ی نظریه‌ای خاص، استدلالات موافق و مخالف آن مطرح می‌شود. با توجه به این که کتابی مقدماتی است نمی‌توان انتظار داشت که به استدلالات و براهین به طور جزئی پرداخته شود. مؤلف خود را ملزم کرده که به طور سطحی به استدلالات بپردازد و نقایص را با ارجاع به سایر کتب و مقالات جبران کند. از نظر من بعضی جاها، همان طرح اولیه نیز بدون اشراف بر منابع بالادستی قابل فهم نیست. مورد قابل توجه بعدی ترجمه‌ی کتاب است که چنگی به دل نمی‌زند. خیلی جاها ترجمه لفظ به لفظ فهم متن را دشوار کرده و انتخاب واژگان و الفاظ بدون توضیحات تکمیلی در پاورقی خواننده را گیج می‌کند. حروف‌نگاری کتاب هم به نظر بنده شلخته و بی‌نظم است.
در کل برای آشنایی اولیه با مباحث کتاب بدی نیست اما نباید توقع زیادی داشت.

[Italo Lins Lemos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uma boa introdução ao tema. O texto é bem organizado e apresenta com clareza algumas das questões centrais da Filosofia da Mente, como o problema mente/corpo e o problema da identidade pessoal. Senti falta, no entanto, do tratamento de tópicos mais recentes - e interessantes - dessa área, como a mente estendida e o enativismo, o que acabou reduzindo o valor do livro a uma reconstrução dos debates que foram conduzidos no século XX.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. In my opinion not great for beginners because for most of it I was lost and wondering what half the words meant (and I'm not completely stupid). Also the break downs using variables like x and y were rarely helpful and were confusing. Don't even get me started about the chapter that dealt with the Turing machine and the coke machine example.

[Matko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great beginner's introduction to philosophy of mind. Very reader friendly and gives advice for further reading.