Psycho-Physical Dualism Today An Interdisciplinary Approach

"Until quite recently, mind-body dualism has been regarded with deep suspicion by both philosophers and scientists due to the widespread identification of dualism in general with one particular version of it: the interactionist substance dualism of Rene Descartes. This traditional form of dualism has, ever since its first formulation in the seventeenth century, attracted numerous philosophical objections and is now almost universally rejected in scientific circles as empirically inadequate. During the last few years, however, renewed attention has begun to be paid to the dualistic point of view, as a result of increasing discontent with the prevailing materialism and reductionism of contemporary scientific and philosophical thought. Awareness has grown that dualism need not be restricted to its traditional form and that other varieties of dualism are not subject to the difficulties commonly raised against Descartes' own version of it." "Psycho-Physical Dualism Today provides philosophers, scientists, their students, and the wider general public with an up-to-date overview of current developments in dualistic conceptions of the mind in contemporary philosophy and science."--BOOK JACKET.