Author Description
Philosophy of Mind: A Very Short Introduction probes some of the great philosophical questions about the mind: What is the relationship between mind and matter? Can science unravel the mystery of consciousness? How can our thoughts represent things in the world? Are computers genuinely intelligent? In the book, Barbara Gail Montero highlights key thought experiments used by philosophers to explore the nature of mind and how mind and body relate to each other (the mind-body problem). She leads readers through the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed solutions to the mind-body problem and explores the philosophical conundrums associated with sensation, perception, cognition, and emotion. While keeping an eye on the contemporary philosophical debate, Montero also considers the cross-cultural roots of philosophy of mind, and its connections to psychology, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and physics. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This book investigates the fundamental nature of the mind and its relationship to the physical world, questioning whether consciousness can be fully explained through scientific inquiry. Barbara Gail Montero, a professor of philosophy, utilizes her expertise in the intersection of philosophy and the sciences to examine the mind-body problem. She presents a structured overview of historical and contemporary arguments, evaluating how various theories address the complexities of sensation, perception, and cognition.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of the mind-body problem and its historical development
- Examination of key thought experiments in philosophy of mind
- Interdisciplinary connections to neuroscience, psychology, and evolutionary biology
- Discussion of artificial intelligence and the nature of machine consciousness
Scope Limits
- Does not provide an exhaustive history of every philosophical school of thought
- Does not offer a definitive solution to the problem of consciousness
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Readers frequently note the accessibility of the prose despite the inherent complexity of the subject matter. Experts highlight this as a concise and effective foundational text for students and general readers seeking an entry point into contemporary philosophical debates.
Page Count:
160
Publication Date:
2022-01-01
ISBN-10:
0192536737
ISBN-13:
9780192536730
Philosophy
Non-Fiction
Academic
Philosophy of
Community Tags
More from Very Short Introductions
