Philosophy of Mind

An accessible, nontechnical introduction to preeminent issues in the philosophy of mind, intended for nonspecialists, as well as material of interest to advanced students and researchers in the field. Includes a new chapter on "Emergence and Panpsychism" and updated reading lists.

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The book is intended as a reader-friendly introduction to issues in the philosophy of mind, including mental–physical causal interaction, computational models of thought, the relation minds bear to brains, and assorted -isms: behaviorism, dualism, eliminativism, emergentism, functionalism, materialism, neutral monism, and panpsychism. The Fourth Edition reintroduces a chapter on Donald Davidson and a discussion of ‘Non-Cartesian Dualism’, along with a wholly new chapter on emergence and panpsychism. A concluding chapter draws together material in earlier chapters and offers what the author regards as a plausible account of the mind’s place in nature. Suggested readings at the conclusion of each chapter have been updated, with a focus on accessible, non-technical material.

Key Features of the Fourth Edition






Includes a new chapter, 'Emergence and Panpsychism' (Chapter 13), reflecting growing interest in these areas



Reintroduces and updates a chapter on Donald Davidson, 'Radical Interpretation' (Chapter 8), which was excised from the previous edition



Updates 'Descartes' Legacy' (Chapter 3) to include a discussion of E. J. Lowe's arresting 'Non-Cartesian Dualism', also removed from the previous edition



Includes a highly revised final chapter, which draws together much of the previous material and sketches a plausible account of the mind’s place in nature



Updated 'Suggested Reading' lists at the end of each chapter