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Cover

Mind

A Brief Introduction

John R. Searle

Publication Date - July 2005

ISBN: 9780195157345

240 pages
Paperback
5-1/2 x 8-1/4 inches

In Stock

The leading authority on the mind offers a highly engaging introduction to one of the most intriguing areas of philosophy

Description

"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.

Reviews

"Searle has written a forceful, clear, accessible and fascinating introductory book that explains much more convincingly than anything else his iconoclastic view that both materialism and dualism are false. Searle vigorously explores the big issues in philosophy of mind, always keeping the deepest intuitions about the mind in focus."--Ned Block, New York University

"Mind finishes with a chapter whose title says it all, 'Philosophy and the Scientific World-View.' That masterful, three-page essay should top the required-reading list in every high school and college around the world. I believe that every thinking person concerned about the mind and its place in the world should own a copy. Easy to read, the book keeps philosophical jargon to a minimum. Pound per pound, you don't get much better value."--Science, Christof Koch, California Institute of Technology

Table of Contents

    Acknowledgments
    Introduction: Why I Wrote This Book
    1. A Dozen Problems in the Philosophy of Mind
    2. The Turn to Materialism
    3. Arguments against Materialism
    4. Consciousness Part I: Consciousness and the Mind-Body Problem
    5. Consciousness Part II: The Structure of Consciousness and Neurobiology
    6. Intentionality
    7. Mental Causation
    8. Free Will
    9. The Unconscious and the Explanation of Behavior
    10. Perception
    11. The Self
    Epilogue: Philosophy and the Scientific World-View
    Notes
    Suggestions for Further Reading
    Index

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