A Brief Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind

By (author) Jack S. Crumley

Publication date:

17 April 2006

Length of book:

240 pages

Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

ISBN-13: 9780742544956

A Brief Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind is written to engage the beginning student, offering a balanced, accessible entrée into a notoriously complex field of inquiry. Crumley introduces four core areas in contemporary philosophy of the mind: the mind/body problem, mental content (intentionality), mental causation, and the nature of consciousness. The book is distinctive in its further coverage of such fascinating topics as the nature of mental images, theories of concepts, and whether or not computers can think, as well as brief accounts of the disciplines with which the philosophy of mind is often associated, among them neuroscience and cognitive psychology.

Part 1 Preface
Part 2 Introduction: Beginning Matters
Part 3 Part One: The Nature of the Mental and the Physical
Chapter 4 Dualism
Chapter 5 Only Skin Deep: Bahaviorism
Chapter 6 It's All in Your Brain: Type Identity Theory
Chapter 7 Diagramming the Mind: Functionalism
Chapter 8 Minds, Computers, and Biology: Functionalism II
Chapter 9 Does the Mental Matter? Eliminativism and Instrumentalism
Part 10 Part Two: The Function of the Mind
Chapter 11 Images and Concepts
Chapter 12 What Do You Have in Mind? Theories of Mental Content
Chapter 13 It's the Law: Mental Causation
Chapter 14 Consciousness from B to Z
Part 15 Glossary
Part 16 Index
Part 17 About the Author

Crumley's book offers a clear, well-developed introduction to the main problems in philosophy of mind. Crumley's conversational tone, lucid examples, and palpable enthusiasm for the philosophy of mind are sure to appeal to readers. It is well-suited to the mid-level undergraduate student with little or no background in philosophy while, at the same time, providing a comprehensive and accessible foray into very technical and complex issues that arise in philosophy of mind.