Mind A Brief Introduction

by Searle, John R.

• ISBN13: 9780195157345
• ISBN10: 0195157346
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-07-28
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

"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, comprehensiveintroduction 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, mentalcausation, free will, and the self. The book offers a refreshingly direct and engaging introduction to one of the most intriguing areas of philosophy.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS	ix
Introduction: Why I Wrote This Book	1	(178)
1 A Dozen Problems in the Philosophy of Mind	6	(23)
2 The Turn to Materialism	29	(29)
3 Arguments against Materialism	58	(17)
4 Consciousness Part I: Consciousness and the Mind-Body Problem	75	(18)
5 Consciousness Part II: The Structure of Consciousness and Neurobiology	93	(19)
6 Intentionality	112	(24)
7 Mental Causation	136	(15)
8 Free Will	151	(14)
9 The Unconscious and the Explanation of Behavior	165	(14)
10 Perception	179	(13)
11 The Self	192	(15)
Epilogue: Philosophy and the Scientific World-View	207	(4)
NOTES	211	(6)
INDEX	217	(6)
NAME INDEX	223