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Cover

Mindware

An Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Science

Second Edition

Andy Clark

Publication Date - November 2013

ISBN: 9780199828159

336 pages
Paperback
6-1/8 x 9-1/4 inches

In Stock

A lively, provocative, and concise introduction to the philosophy of cognitive sciences

Description

Ranging across both standard philosophical territory and the landscape of cutting-edge cognitive science, Mindware: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Second Edition, is a vivid and engaging introduction to key issues, research, and opportunities in the field.

Starting with the vision of mindware as software and debates between realists, instrumentalists, and eliminativists, Andy Clark takes students on a no-holds-barred journey through connectionism, dynamical systems, and real-world robotics before moving on to the frontiers of cognitive technologies, enactivism, predictive coding, and the extended mind. Throughout, he highlights challenging issues in an effort to engage students in active debate. Each chapter opens with a brief sketch of a major research tradition or perspective, followed by concise critical discussions dealing with key topics and problems.

New to this Edition

  • Three new chapters (9-11) on cognitive extensions, enactivism, and the predictive brain, and a revised appendix on consciousness
  • Extensive revisions, additions, and updates throughout in light of new developments in the field
  • New text boxes and revised and expanded suggestions for further reading, including many electronic resources (summarized on the book's Companion Website at www.oup/us/clark)

About the Author(s)

Andy Clark is Professor of Logic and Metaphysics in the School of Philosophy, Psychology, and Language Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. He is the author of six books including Supersizing the Mind (2008) and Natural-Born Cyborgs (2004), both published by Oxford University Press.

Previous Publication Date(s)

December 2000

Reviews

"The first edition of Mindware was so clear and engagingly written that it immediately became the go-to textbook for the philosophy of cognitive science. It was also so far out on the cutting edge that it has remained relevant for more than a decade. This updated and significantly expanded second edition is a major upgrade. With it, Andy Clark has improved on what already was the best introduction to the discipline and, no doubt, mapped out the debates of the next decade."--Anthony Chemero, University of Cincinnati

"As an introduction to the field, Mindware has no equal. It's one thing to transport traditional philosophical discussions into the realm of empirical research; it's another thing to do so in a way that students find accessible and engaging. This is a lively and assured guide, and Clark is an excellent tour guide."--Scott M. James, University of North Carolina Wilmington

Table of Contents

    Introduction: (Not) Like a Rock
    1. Meat Machines: Mindware as Software
    2. Symbol Systems
    3. Patterns, Contents, and Causes
    4. Connectionism
    5. Perception, Action, and the Brain
    6. Robots and Artificial Life
    7. Dynamics
    8. Cognitive Technology: Beyond the Naked Brain
    9. Extended Minds?
    10. Enacting Perceptual Experience
    11. Prediction Machines
    12. (Not Really a) Conclusion
    Appendix I. Some Backdrop: Dualism, Behaviorism, and Beyond
    Appendix II . Consciousness and the Meta-Hard Problem

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