Knowledge and mind : a philosophical introduction / Andrew Brook and Robert J. Stainton.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Brook, Andrew, author.

Stainton, Robert, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Knowledge, Theory of.

Philosophy of mind.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 253 pages) : illustrations

Other Title:

MIT Press CogNet.

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press, [2000]

System Details:

text file

Summary:

This is the only contemporary text to cover both epistemology and philosophy of mind at an introductory level. It also serves as a general introduction to philosophy: it discusses the nature and methods of philosophy as well as basic logical tools of the trade.

The book is divided into three parts. The first focuses on knowledge, in particular, skepticism and knowledge of the external world, and knowledge of language. The second focuses on mind, including the metaphysics of mind and freedom of will. The third brings together knowledge and mind, discussing knowledge of mind (other minds and our own) and naturalism and how epistemology and philosophy, of mind come together in contemporary cognitive science. Throughout, the authors take into account the needs of the beginning philosophy student. They have made very effort to ensure accessibility while preserving accuracy.

Contents:

Chapter 1 Introduction to Philosophy, Knowledge, and Mind 1

1 Epistemology 1

2 Philosophy of Mind 3

3 Epilogue: Arguments, Philosophical and Otherwise 5

Part I Knowledge 13

Chapter 2 Knowing the External World 15

1 A Skeptical Argument 15

2 Objections to External-World Skepticism and Replies 20

3 Epilogue: The Gettier "Paradox" and Knowledge as Justified True Belief 29

Chapter 3 Knowledge of Language 33

1 The Nature of Linguistic Knowledge 33

2 The Acquisition of Linguistic Knowledge 42

3 Language and Thought 49

4 A Universal Language of Thought (LOT)? 54

5 Epilogue to Part I: The Nature and Methods of Philosophy 56

Part II Mind 61

Chapter 4 Mind and Body: The Metaphysics of Mind 63

1 Introduction: Conflicting Visions of the Mind 63

2 What Makes Something Mental? 73

3 A Wealth of Positions 79

Chapter 5 Mind and Body: What Should We Believe? 103

1 Why Has Dualism Had Such a Strong Appeal? 103

2 Four Arguments for Dualism 108

3 Assessment of the Arguments 111

4 What Should We Believe? 117

5 Is the Mind Fundamentally a Symbol Processor? 120

6 Do We Need to Study the Brain? 123

7 Why Isn't Functionalism Just Good Old Dualism in New Clothes? 124

8 Immortality Again: Can We Look Forward to Life after Death? 126

Chapter 6 Free Choice 135

1 A Preliminary Definition 136

2 Why Freedom of Choice Matters 136

3 Freedom of Decision and Freedom of Action 139

4 Positions and Distinctions 141

5 The Compatibilist Challenge 145

6 Compatibilists on Free Choice 146

7 Implications of Compatibilism 150

8 First Objection: The Joys of Modality 152

9 Second Objection: Doesn't Compatibilism Leave Something Important Out? 155

Part III Relating Knowledge to Mind 163

Chapter 7 Knowledge of Minds 165

2 The Problem of Other Minds 165

3 The Problem of Knowledge of Self 168

4 Weak, Stronger, and Strongest Skepticism about Other Minds 170

5 Responses to the Problem 173

6 There Is a Problem: The Argument from Analogy Is the Solution 174

7 There Is a Problem: Underlying Neurological Similarity Is the Solution 177

8 There Is No Problem: Identity Theory, Behaviorism, Wittgensteinianism 178

9 There Is a Problem: Inference to the Best Explanation Is the Solution 181

10 The Problem of Knowledge of Self 184

Chapter 8 A New Approach to Knowledge and Mind 189

1 Naturalizing Philosophy: How Philosophy Relates to Science 191

2 Naturalizing Epistemology 195

3 Naturalizing the Mind 200

4 Naturalizing Knowledge of Other Minds: The Problem in Robots 207

5 Philosophy and Naturalism 213.

Notes:

"A Bradford book."

Includes bibliographical references (pages 239-246) and index.

Description based on print version record.

Other Format:

Print version: Brook, Andrew. Knowledge and mind.

ISBN:

9780262269315

0262269317

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.