Philosophy of mind Books

Book SynopsisTraditional cognitive science is Cartesian in the sense that it takes as fundamental the distinction between the mental and the physical, the mind and the world. This leads to the claim that cognition is representational and best explained using models derived from AI and computational theory. The authors depart radically from this model.

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Book SynopsisThis Element puts together the arguments of Plato and Aristotle in favor of the positive value of pleasure and in the direction of hedonism. It sets store for the activities which Eudoxus has been most renowned: mathematics and astronomy.Table of Contents1. Eudoxus: who he?; 2. Two anonymous appearances in Plato; 3. Witness; 4. Addition; 5. Honour; 6. Opposites; 7. Cradle; 8. End; 9. How much did Aristotle accept from Eudoxus?; References.

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Book SynopsisThis Handbook introduces neurosemiotics, a pluralistic framework to reconsider semiosis as an emergent phenomenon at the interface of biology and culture.Across individual and interpersonal settings, meaning is influenced by external and internal processes bridging phenomenological and biological dimensions. Yet, each of these dyads has been segregated into discipline-specific topics, with attempts to chart their intersections proving preliminary at best. Bringing together perspectives from world-leading experts, this volume seeks to overcome these disciplinary divides between the social and the natural sciences at both the empirical and theoretical levels. Its various chapters chart the foundations of neurosemiotics; characterize linguistic and interpersonal dynamics as shaped by neurocognitive, bodily, situational, and societal factors; and examine other daily neurosemiotic occurrences driven by faces, music, tools, and even visceral signals.This comprehensi

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Book SynopsisWhy has so much of our recent attention been focused on AI while RI (Real Intelligence) is all but forgotten? And why are we spending so much energy debating the future of AI rather than that of its human original? Why canât those who are concerned about AI and those who care about RI talk to one another using a common language?iMind: Artificial and Real Intelligenceis the first comprehensive popular science account of AI and RI. Unique in scope, it discusses the interdisciplinary science of AI, RI, smartphones, smart sensors, microchips, and the brain-mind connection. It explores what is beyond the physical, including mindfulness and spirituality, and how they can impact our wellbeing in the here and now, and how they can help us achieve a healthy and fulfilling old age.Mohamed I. Elmasry, PhD, FIEEE, FRSC, FCAE, FEIC, is Emeritus Professor of Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThis Element surveys research on three central and interrelated issues about the nature of memory and remembering. The first is about the nature of memory as a cognitive faculty, the second issue concerns what memory does, and the third issue is about the nature of what we remember.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. What is memory?; 3. What is remembering?; 4. What do we remember?; 5. Final thoughts; References.

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsHow to Use This Book xv Acknowledgments xvii About the Companion Website xix 1 Meet Your Mind 1 Aspects of Mind 1 Thought and experience 1 Conscious and unconscious 2 Qualia 3 Sensory perception 3 Emotion 4 Imagery 4 Will and action 5 Self 5 Propositional attitudes 5 Philosophical Problems 6 Mind–body problem 6 Other problems 9 Conclusion 14 Annotated Bibliography 14 2 Substance Dualism 15 Arguments for Substance Dualism 15 Leibniz’s law arguments 16 Criticism of Leibniz’s law arguments: Intensional fallacy 19 Explanatory gap arguments 20 Criticisms of explanatory gap arguments 21 Modal arguments 22 Mind–Body Interaction as a Problem for Substance Dualism 24 Princess Elisabeth’s objection 25 The dualistic alternatives to Cartesian interactionism 26 Conclusion 27 Annotated Bibliography 28 3 Property Dualism 29 Introducing Property Dualism: Qualia and the Brain 29 The Inverted Spectrum 30 Attack of the Zombies 32 The Knowledge Argument 34 The Explanatory Gap Argument 37 Does Property Dualism Lead to Epiphenomenalism? 39 How Do You Know You’re Not a Zombie? 40 Conclusion 42 Annotated Bibliography 42 4 Idealism, Solipsism, and Panpsychism 44 Solipsism: Is It Just Me? 45 Idealism: It’s All in the Mind 49 Berkeley’s argument from pain 50 Berkeley’s argument from perceptual relativity: Berkeley’s bucket 51 Berkeley’s “Nothing but an idea can resemble an idea” 51 Berkeley’s master argument 52 Why Berkeley is not a solipsist 52 Arguing against idealism 53 Panpsychism: Mind Is Everywhere 53 The analogy argument 54 The nothing from nothing argument 55 The evolutionary argument 56 Arguing against panpsychism: The combination problem 57 Conclusion 58 Annotated Bibliography 58 5 Behaviorism and Other Minds 59 Behaviorism: Introduction and Overview 59 The History of Behaviorism 61 Ludwig Wittgenstein and the private language argument 62 Gilbert Ryle versus the ghost in the machine 64 Objections to Behaviorism 65 The qualia objection 65 Sellars’s objection 66 The Geach–Chisholm objection 67 The Philosophical Problem of Other Minds 68 The rise and fall of the argument from analogy 69 Denying the asymmetry between self- knowledge and knowledge of other minds 70 Conclusion 71 Annotated Bibliography 72 6 Mind as Brain 74 Introducing Mind–Brain Identity Theory 74 Advantages of Mind–Brain Identity Theory 75 A Very Brief Overview of Neuroscience 76 Major parts and functions of the nervous system 77 Major parts and functions of the brain 77 Neurons, neural activations, and brain states 78 Lesions, imaging, and electrophysiology 78 Localism and holism 78 Learning and synaptic plasticity 79 Computational neuroscience and connectionism 79 Neural correlates of consciousness 80 On pain and c- fibers 80 Some General Remarks about Identity 81 Arguments against Mind–Brain Identity Theory 83 The zombie argument 83 The multiple realizability argument 84 Max Black’s “distinct property” argument 86 Conclusion 87 Annotated Bibliography 88 7 Thinking Machines 89 Can a Machine Think? 89 Alan Turing, Turing Machines, and the Turing Test 90 Alan Turing 91 Turing machines 91 The Turing test 92 Searle’s Chinese Room Argument 93 Responses to the Chinese Room Argument 94 The Silicon Chip Replacement Thought Experiment 95 Symbolicism versus Connectionism 98 Conclusion 101 Annotated Bibliography 102 8 Functionalism 104 The Gist of Functionalism 104 A Brief History of Functionalism 106 Arguments for Functionalism 107 The causal argument 107 The multiple realization argument 109 The Varieties of Functionalism 111 Turing machine functionalism 112 Analytical functionalism versus empirical functionalism 113 Arguments against Functionalism 114 Adapting the zombie argument to be against functionalism 114 Adapting the Chinese room argument to be against functionalism 115 Conclusion 116 Annotated Bibliography 116 9 Mental Causation 118 The Problem of Mental Causation 118 The causal closure of the physical 119 The problem for substance dualists 121 The problem for property dualists 121 Basic Views of Interaction 122 Interactionism 122 Parallelism 123 Epiphenomenalism 124 Reductionism 125 Qualia and Epiphenomenalism 125 Whether qualia- based epiphenomenalism conflicts with phenomenal self- knowledge 126 Dennett’s zimboes 126 Anomalous Monism 127 The Explanatory Exclusion Argument 131 Conclusion 132 Annotated Bibliography 132 10 Eliminative Materialism 134 Introduction and Overview 134 Basic Ingredients of Contemporary Eliminative Materialism 135 Folk psychology as a theory 136 The contrast between reduction and elimination 137 Putting the ingredients together 138 Arguments for Propositional Attitude Eliminative Materialism 138 Folk psychology is a stagnant research program 139 Folk psychology is committed to propositional attitudes having a sentential structure that is unsupported by neuroscientific research 139 Folk psychology makes commitments to features of mental states that lead to an unacceptable epiphenomenalism 140 Arguments against Propositional Attitude Eliminative Materialism 140 Eliminative materialism is self- refuting 140 The “theory” theory is false 141 Folk psychology is indispensable 142 Introspection reveals the existence of propositional attitudes 142 Qualia Eliminative Materialism: “Quining” Qualia 143 Conclusion 147 Annotated Bibliography 147 11 Perception, Mental Imagery, and Emotion 149 Perception 149 Direct realism and the argument from illusion 149 Philosophical theories of perception 152 Mental Imagery 155 How similar are mental images to other mental states? 156 Is mental imagery the basis for mental states such as thoughts? 157 To what degree, if any, is mental imagery genuinely imagistic or picture-like? 157 Emotion 159 What distinguishes emotions from other mental states? 160 What distinguishes different emotions from each other? 160 The difficulties in giving a unified account of the emotions 161 Conclusion 162 Annotated Bibliography 162 12 The Will: Willpower and Freedom 164 The Problem of Free Will and Determinism 164 Sources of Determinism 166 General remarks 166 Physical determinism 167 Theological determinism 168 Logical determinism 168 Ethical determinism 169 Psychological determinism 169 Compatibilism 169 Incompatibilism 171 The origination or causal chain argument 172 The consequence argument 172 What Might Free Will Be, If There Were Any Such Thing? 173 Freedom aside for the moment, what is the will? 173 What might the freedom of the will consist in? 176 Conclusion 177 Annotated Bibliography 178 13 Intentionality and Mental Representation 179 Introducing Intentionality 179 The Inconsistent Triad of Intentionality 180 Defending each individual proposition 181 Spelling out the inconsistency 182 Internalism versus Externalism 182 For externalism: The Twin Earth thought experiment 184 Against externalism: Swampman and the brain in the vat 185 Theories of Content Determination 186 Resemblance theory 186 Interpretational semantics 187 Conceptual role semantics 188 Causal or informational theory 190 Teleological evolutionary theory 191 Conclusion 192 Annotated Bibliography 192 14 Consciousness and Qualia 194 Optimism about Explaining Consciousness 194 Focusing on Several Different Uses of the Word “Conscious” 195 Creature consciousness 195 Transitive consciousness 195 State consciousness 196 Phenomenal consciousness 196 Rosenthal’s Higher Order Thought Theory of Consciousness 197 An objection to the HOT theory: Introspectively implausible 200 Another objection to the HOT theory: Too intellectual 200 First Order Representation Theories of Consciousness 202 The transparency argument for first order representationalism 204 The “Spot” argument for first order representationalism 205 Conclusion 205 Annotated Bibliography 206 15 Is This the End?: Personal Identity, the Self, and Life after Death 207 Problems of Personal Identity 207 The Problem of Persistence 209 Approaches to the Problem of Persistence 209 The psychological approach 210 The fission problem for the psychological approach 211 The somatic or bodily approach 212 Temporal parts theory aka perdurantism aka four- dimensionalism 214 The no- self view 215 Life after Death 217 Substance dualism and the afterlife 218 Mind–brain identity theory and the afterlife 218 Functionalism and the afterlife 219 Temporal parts and the afterlife 219 No- self and the afterlife 220 Conclusion 220 Annotated Bibliography 220 16 The 4E Approach 222 Two Dimensions of Difference 223 The spatial dimension: From in here to out there 223 The causation- constitution dimension: Important to the mind vs. part of the mind 224 The First E: Mind as Embodied 225 Embodiment and thinking 225 Embodiment and memory 226 Embodiment and conscious experience 227 Embodiment and the plasticity of sensory systems 228 Spatial concepts and bodily orientation 229 The coupling- constitution fallacy 230 The Second E: Enactive 230 You’ve got to move 231 Sensorimotor contingencies 232 Enactivism and anti- representationalism 233 In a World: The Third and Fourth Es 235 Annotated Bibliography 235 17 Futuristic Directions 237 Super AI and the Technological Singularity 238 Chalmers’ singularity argument 240 The gist of Chalmers argument is 240 The quest for friendly AI 241 Enhanced Humans and Posthumans 243 Cyborgization and bioengineering 244 Technology and the extended mind 245 Posthumans versus natural- born cyborgs 246 Mind Uploading 247 Arguing for uploading 248 Annotated Bibliography 250 Index 252

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Book SynopsisConscious Action Theory provides a logical unification between the spirit and the material, by identifying reality as an event that processes personal experiences into explanatory memories, from which personal experiences are regenerated in a never-ending cycle of activity. Baer explores the idea that our personal feelings are undeniable facts that have been systematically excluded from the basic sciences, thereby leaving us with a schizophrenic division between objective materialism and spiritual idealism. Cognitive Action Theory (CAT) achieves this unification by recognizing that the observer's existence is the foundational premise underlying all scientific inquiry. It develops as an event-oriented physical theory in which the first-person observer is central. By analyzing the methods through which we human observers gain knowledge and create the belief systems within which our experiences are explained, we discover a fundamental truth: all systems are obserTable of ContentsProloguePART I - The event-oriented world view1. Introduction to the event-oriented world view 2. Conscious operations in the 1st-person perspectivePART II - Modeling reality3. How to build a conscious action model 4. The action model5. The quantum and classic approximationPART III - Implications and applications6. Model of a conscious being7. Applications in artificial intelligence and neuroscience8. Philosophy, psychology and religion9. Future developmentAPPENDICESA3.1 - Definition of termsA4.1 - Applicability of mathematical idealizations in physicsA4.2 - Action theory in isolated systemsA4.3 - Mach's Principle and gravito-inertial and electromagnetic equation analogyA5.1 - Simple derivation of the wave equationA5.2 - Action-flow diagrams in quantum nomenclatureReferences and NotesIndex

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Book SynopsisFrom WW2 code-breaker to Artificial Intelligence - a fascinating account of the remarkable Alan Turing.Alan Turing''s 1936 paper On Computable Numbers was a landmark of twentieth-century thought. It not only provided the principle of the post-war computer, but also gave an entirely new approach to the philosophy of the mind. Influenced by his crucial codebreaking work during the war, and by practical pioneering of the first electronic computers, Turing argued that all the operations of the mind could be performed by computers. His thesis is the cornerstone of modern Artificial Intelligence. Andrew Hodges gives a fresh analysis of Turing''s work, relating it to his extraordinary life.Trade ReviewThe virtue of these deceptively brief books is that they are the real thing * EVENING STANDARD *Rarely have intellectual sophistication and complexity come so cheap * FINANCIAL TIMES *The books should improve the cultural circulation of philosophy by their style as well as their substance * TES *A promising venture * THE TIMES *If you want to acquire some first-hand experience of philosophy and democracy you would do well to read this welcome series * TIMES HIGHER EDUCATIONAL SUPPLEMENT *

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Book SynopsisThe islands of Scotland’s Outer Hebrides boast some of the most remote and spectacular scenery in the world. They also feature an astonishing range of mysterious structures – stone circles, beehive dwellings, holy wells and ‘temples’ from the Celtic and prehistoric eras. Over a twelve-day journey, Alastair McIntosh returned to the islands of his childhood to explore the meaning of these places. This book is a record of his pilgrimage – a walk through space and time, across a physical landscape and into a spiritual one. As he battled with his own ability to endure some of the toughest terrain in Britain, McIntosh met with the healing power of the land and its communities. Here he reflects on an extraordinary place and on the people he encountered along the way, and explores a vision of imaginative hope for humankind.Trade Review'A remarkable, highly readable yet scholarly book' -- Jim Corrigan * Faith and Freedom *'Fascinating, provocative and, occasionally, very funny' -- Joanna Kavenna * Times Literary Supplement *'One of the most fascinating books I’ve read for a long while, if maddeningly hard to categorise' -- David Robinson * Scotsman *'Poacher’s Pilgrimage is a book full of generosity, spry in its thinking and detailed in its observations' * Scotland on Sunday *'The language is almost poetic, reflecting the writer’s artistic gifts and his understanding of Celtic and pre-Celtic culture' -- David Thomson * Press & Journal (book of the week) *'His honesty is humbling ... he never skirts a question. He is on a mission, and having been Scotland's first professor of human ecology, he seems at times prophetic' -- Polly Pullar * Scottish Field *'If this sounds more serious than a Presbyterian church service, there is great fun to be found in Poacher’s Pilgrimage. McIntosh is an entertaining subversive' * The National *

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Book Synopsis"Inspirational" - The Daily Mail"Sarah Sands has written about stillness with an eloquence that fizzes with vitality and wit. This wonderful book charts a journey to some of the most beautiful and tranquil places on earth, and introduces us to people whose inner peace is a balm for our troubled times. I loved every page of it." - Nicholas HytnerSuffering from information overload, unable to sleep, Sarah Sands, former editor of the BBC's Today programme, has tried many different strategies to de-stress... only to reject them because, as she says, all too often they threaten to become an exercise in self-absorption.Inspired by the ruins of an ancient Cistercian abbey at the bottom of her Norfolk garden, she begins to research the lives of the monks who once resided there, and realises how much we may have to learn from monasticism.Renouncing the world, monks and nuns have acquired a hidden knowledge of how to live: they labour, they learn and they acquire 'the interior silence'. This book is a quest for that hidden knowledge - a pilgrimage to ten monasteries round the world.From a Coptic desert community in Egypt to a retreat in the Japanese mountains, we follow Sands as she identifies the common characteristics of monastic life and the wisdoms to be learned from them; and as she discovers, behind the cloistered walls, a clarity of mind and an unexpected capacity for solitude which enable her, after years of insomnia, to experience that elusive, dreamless sleep.Trade Review'Inspirational' * Daily Mail *'Sarah Sands has written about stillness with an eloquence that fizzes with vitality and wit. This wonderful book charts a journey to some of the most beautiful and tranquil places on earth, and introduces us to people whose inner peace is a balm for our troubled times. I loved every page of it.' * Nicholas Hytner *'This book shows that tranquillity of spirit is worth searching for.' * John Humphrys *'This is a book which goes beyond history to the needs of human nature. It is a balm for our times.' * Elizabeth Adenkule, Archdeacon of Hackney *'In tumultuous times, monasteries are the ideal place for believers and non-believers alike to seek peace and reflection. Sarah Sands is the perfect guide to these sites of solace, a Patrick Leigh Fermor for the soul.' * Matt d’Ancona *'A fascinating journey, from the cauldron of the newsroom to the peace of monasteries.' * Alice Thomson *'Magical... Bright... Captivating.' -- Craig Brown * Mail on Sunday *'I loved the mix of far-off destinations and the spiritual journey. This is a brilliant book and an antidote to our 24/7 culture.' * Melanie Mcdonagh *'Gripping... Witty... Poignant, and a fable of our times.' -- Dan Hitchens * UnHerd *'A charming and quirky homage to A Time to Keep Silence by Patrick Leigh Fermor... The pulling of [Sands'] natural twinkling merriment against her genuine desire to explore spirituality and silence is what makes this book so lovable.' -- Ysenda Maxtone Graham * The Spectator *'An engaging and satisfying book challenging us to consider the priorities each of us have chosen, and inviting us to consider how best we can find the interior silence by which we can know ourselves and the world around us better.' -- Reverend Marcus Walker * The Times *'A beautifully written, self-deprecating, self-doubting, and fortunately timed book.' -- William Cash * Catholic Herald *

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Book SynopsisEnchantment is a profound human experience. When we encounter wonder, awe or amazement, that is enchantment. Enchantment can reveal profound truths, lead to deep values and become central to a life well-lived. This unique book explores how enchantment plays out in a wide range of contexts -- in love, art, religion and learning, in food and drink, and perhaps most significantly in our relationship with the natural world. Patrick Curry argues that modernist attempts to undermine or dismiss enchantment as a delusion are not only misguided but dangerous, potentially leading to a disengagement with our world that could have disastrous consequences for our future on this planet.Trade Review'Patrick Curry's study is insightful about uncovenanted blessings that bring delight. It also resonates with current ecological concerns and critiques of technology and economic "rationality" as the measure of human value.'-- Bernice Martin, The Times Literary Supplement'Enchantment. A word that conjures up feelings, images, memories. But they are fleeting. The mind tries to find a box to put it in, to give ita meaning and a history. Yet it retreats from reason behind a veil ofcolours and impressions. It is Blake’s joy which can be kissed in its passing and lives in eternity’s sunrise but cannot be bound or you will destroy its life. So, to find myself with a finite, concrete book which claims to be full of words relating to Enchantment, and its twin Wonder, seems a pure contradiction. Yet, Patrick Curry has succeeded in writing a book which in itself reads like a poem in progress. In trying to define without imprisoning this evanescent theme the door is left open for us to feel and sense our way into this illusive occurrence. For that is what it is. An event, an experience which takes place at a specific moment in time and place between two or more subjects and is gone before you know it; its after effect and its depth of penetration can however last for ever and change a life profoundly.'-- Anna Phillips, Perspectives'This is a delightful, not to say enchanting book about enchantment and the possibilities for wonder in modern life in an era increasingly characterised by disenchantment... The text is beautifully woven, with many magical excerpts and episodes from the author's wide reading and extensive experience... A crucial reminder of what represents real quality of life.'-- David Lorimer, Scientific and Medical Network'I found the book thought-provoking while at the same time relishing its clarity and accessibility -- it can be so hard to talk about this subject without delving in to all kinds of abstract or arcane language -- and in the end, uplifting, for I felt it opened a way in for people who might be suspicious of the philosophical and religious sides of this experience.'-- Professor John Burnside, St. Andrews University'Patrick Curry suggests that the opposite of enchantment is not disenchantment but glamour. Like Jung when he stated that the opposite of love is not hatred but power, Curry shows how glamour is a fabricated, false, fake version of enchantment. His demonstration is extremely convincing. Reading him, one feels like opening one's eyes wider.'-- Ginette Paris, author of The Wisdom of the Psyche'Curry's Enchantment is simply an enchanting book, built on the wonder of our relationship with existence. It is lyrically written for all who have been enchanted, and draws on his own experiences. It encourages each of us to consider the wonder and love we are gifted -- and can return.'-- Haydn Washington, author of A Sense of Wonder Towards Nature'As Patrick Curry argues eloquently in his thoughtful examination of the human condition in these challenging modern times, "enchantment is an experience of wonder". This is no mere academic exercise, although he is surprisingly erudite in his choice of texts, writers and cultural icons to illustrate his thoughts on this vital feature of being fully human. Nor is this a fluffy 'New Age' extended essay on how much better this world would be if we were all nice to each other. Much of the material is philosophical or poetic in nature, drawn from inspirational writers such as J.R.R. Tolkien, Max Weber, and W.H. Auden. Although mainly positive in tone, Curry does not hold back from stating things as they are. He is passionately scathing in denunciation of elements in the present world that seek to enslave the human race as little more than robots.'-- Magonia Review'What could be more confounding than trying to understand 'enchantment', an uncanny power that by its very nature frustrates all comprehension? Yet in this small volume Patrick Curry accomplishes much. If we join him as he tracks several of the numberless styles of enchantment, if we pay heed to his insights and sometimes argue with him, we'll find ourselves slowly becoming more layered within ourselves, wiser, and maybe even wonder-struck.' -- David Abram, author of The Spell of the Sensuous and Becoming Animal'Understanding begins -- and ends -- in wonder. This book articulates simply, and in a personal and unpretentious manner, an urgently needed defence of wonder as indispensable to a true perception and just appreciation of the world. We neglect its message at our peril.'-- Iain McGilchrist, author of The Master and his Emissary'An impressive erudition and literary sensibility animate the pages of this thoughtful book. With a light poetic touch Curry traces the many ways in which enchantment lies at the core of human experience, even in a world that does its best to disabuse and disillusion us. Detaching it from ideology, Curry sees enchantment as an irrepressible mode of our being present to things, and vice versa. The enchanted moments cannot be sustained yet they lay their claim on us time and time again by virtue of the fact that we are alive and capable of wonder.'-- Robert Pogue Harrison, author of Forests: the Shadow of Civilization'After reading any of [Patrick Curry's] pieces life seems more worth living, and for that I am especially grateful.'-- Zygmunt Bauman, author of Liquid Modernity'Curry is a poet and philosopher and both come through so clearly in his writing which is rich, precise, and full of complex ideas expressed with a remarkable ease... I can't recommend [this book] enough, especially for those who experience enchantment but for whom words for expressing it have always been difficult. At long last, we have our poet philosopher whose respect for enchantment has allowed us to understand its extraordinary qualities at the deepest levels and by gently keeping himself from being at the center of the story (as other writers on enchantment and wonder have not been able to resist) allows us very much to hear his words and yet to be in our own songs. A wonder indeed.'-- Goodreads ReviewerTable of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Dynamics of Enchantment 3. Love 4. Art 5. Religion 6. Food and Drink 7. Learning 8. Nature 9. Disenchantment 10. Technoscience 11. Enchantment as a Way of Life Endnotes A Bibliographical Note Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisOne of the most profound philosophical problems is the nature of mind and its relationship to the body. A Brief Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind provides an introduction, written in clear language, to the various theories of the mind-body relationship, as well as a host of related philosophical discussions about mind and consciousness.The central theories, such as Cartesian Dualism, parallelism, epiphenomenalism, and supervenience among others, are presented in historical order. Their claims, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they ultimately relate to one another and to other philosophical questions are explored objectively, allowing readers to decide for themselves which theories are best.Trade Review“Neil Campbell’s latest book is a terrific introduction to contemporary philosophical approaches to the mind-body problem. He clearly maps out the landscape of ontological theories and concisely explains the central arguments for and against each position. Campbell goes out of his way to introduce core philosophical notions and techniques of general application, so that even readers with a limited background in philosophy can understand his explanations.” — Thomas W. Polger, University of Cincinnati “This book offers an exceptionally lucid survey of the central positions on the mind-body problem and the challenges each of them faces with respect to the problems of mental causation, phenomenal consciousness, and intentional content. Complex concepts and issues are explained in a concise and incisive way without sacrifice of accuracy, and conflicting positions are given evenly sympathetic treatment. All in all this is an excellent introduction to the philosophy of mind.” — Ausonio Marras, University of Western Ontario“In this refreshingly non-polemical survey of the major theories of mind, Campbell manages to be rigorous without being overly technical. While moving swiftly through the topics, he also shows excellent judgment in knowing exactly when to pause to go into more detail. The philosophical terms are helpfully and carefully defined throughout, and there is always an example just where one is needed.” — Amy Kind, Claremont McKenna CollegeTable of ContentsPrefaceIntroductionChapter 1: DualismChapter 2: BehaviourismChapter 3: Type Identity TheoryChapter 4: FunctionalismChapter 5: Anomalous MonismChapter 6: Eliminative MaterialismChapter 7: SupervenienceChapter 8: Mental ContentChapter 9: The Problem of QualiaIndex

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Book SynopsisGeoff Nicholson has been walking his whole life. Wherever he is and wherever he goes in the world, he walks and writes about what he sees and feels. Here he reflects on the nature of walking, why we do it, how it benefits us and, in some cases, how it can damage and even destroy us. His recent diagnosis with a rare, incurable form of cancer has made him all too aware of his own mortality. Sooner or later there will be a last step, a last excursion, a final drift, for him just as there will be for all of us. Geoff vows to continue to walk for as long as he can. This moving, vital book describes his own walks and relates them to the walks of street photographers, artists and writers, such as Garry Winogrand, Diane Arbus, Sophie Calle, Jorge Luis Borges and Virginia Woolf, among many others. Walking on Thin Air is a book about mortality and, above all, a celebration of being alive.Trade Review'This pithy, erudite yet resolutely unpretentious book is a celebration of the invigorating, inspiring pleasures of strolling just for the sake of it.' * Buzzmag *

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Book SynopsisA powerful and important exploration of how addiction functions on social, psychological and biological levels, integrated with the experience of being an addict, from an acclaimed philosopher and former addict.What is addiction? Theories about what kind of thing addiction is are sharply divided between those who see it purely as a brain disorder, and those who conceive of it in psychological and social terms. Owen Flanagan, an acclaimed philosopher of mind and ethics, offers a state-of-the-art assessment of addiction science and proposes a new ecumenical model for understanding and explaining substance addiction.Flanagan has first-hand knowledge of what it is like to be an addict. That experience, along with his wide-ranging knowledge of the philosophy of mind, psychology, neuroscience, and the ethics and politics of addiction, informs this important and novel work. He pairs the sciences that study addiction with a sophisticated view of the consciousness-brain/body relation to make his core argument: that substance addictions comprise a heterogeneous set of psychobiosocial behavioral disorders. He explains that substance addictions do not have one set of causes, such as self-medication or social dislocation, and they do not have one neural profile, such as a dysfunction in dopamine system. Some addictions are fun and experimentation gone awry. Flanagan reveals addiction to be a heterogeneous set of disorders, which are picked out by multifarious cultural, social, psychological, and neural features.Flanagan explores the ways addicts sensibly insist on their own responsibility to undo addiction, as well as ways in which shame for addiction can be leveraged into healing. He insists on the collective shame we all bear for our indifference to many of the psychological and social causes of addiction and explores the implications of this new integrated paradigm for practices of harm reduction and treatment. Flanagan''s powerful new book upends longstanding conventional thinking and points the way to new ways of understanding and treating addiction.

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Book SynopsisRecent clinical trials show that psychedelics such as LSD and psilocybin can be given safely in controlled conditions, and can cause lasting psychological benefits with one or two administrations. Supervised psychedelic sessions can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and addiction, and improve well-being in healthy volunteers, for months or even years. But these benefits seem to be mediated by mystical experiences of cosmic consciousness, which prompts a philosophical concern: do psychedelics cause psychological benefits by inducing false or implausible beliefs about the metaphysical nature of reality?This book is the first scholarly monograph in English devoted to the philosophical analysis of psychedelic drugs. Its central focus is the apparent conflict between the growing use of psychedelics in psychiatry and the philosophical worldview of naturalism.Within the book, Letheby integrates empirical evidence and philosophical considerations in the service of a simple conclusion: this Comforting Delusion Objection to psychedelic therapy fails. While exotic metaphysical ideas do sometimes come up, they are not, on closer inspection, the central driver of change in psychedelic therapy. Psychedelics lead to lasting benefits by altering the sense of self, and changing how people relate to their own minds and lives-not by changing their beliefs about the ultimate nature of reality. The upshot is that a traditional conception of psychedelics as agents of insight and spirituality can be reconciled with naturalism (the philosophical position that the natural world is all there is). Controlled psychedelic use can lead to genuine forms of knowledge gain and spiritual growth-even if no Cosmic Consciousness or transcendent divine Reality exists.Philosophy of Psychedelics is an indispensable guide to the literature for researchers already engaged in the field of psychedelic psychiatry, and for researchers-especially philosophers-who want to become acquainted with this increasingly topical field.Trade ReviewClearly written, with an accessible overview of a wealth of recent studies, and while it explicitly undertakes to naturalise the "mystical" elements of psychedelic usage, it is nevertheless refreshing to see the phenomenological data taken seriously. There is much thought provoking material here for those interested in taking a more conventional journey through the doors of perception. * Paul Dicken, Fortean Times *Letheby's clearly written and well-referenced text ends by offering a set of experiments designed to help readers evaluate the unique challenges presented by psychedelic therapy. * S. Krippner, California Institute of Integral Studies, Choice Connect *Chris Letheby's Philosophy of Psychedelics is not the first philosophical engagement with psychedelics but the most impressive in this budding subfield of the philosophy of mind. * Nicolas Langlitz, The Polyphony *...we can only hope that there will be a follow up to this interesting book... * Gunnel Minett, The Science of Psychotherapy *This excellent, well-argued, book is required reading for anyone with interests in philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology, and philosophy of psychiatry. It presents the first book-length argument for the effectiveness of psychedelic therapy and provides an account of how this effectiveness may be understood from within cognitive neuroscience. Everyone should read this book!" * Richard Brown, Humanities Department, LaGuardia Community College, CUNY & M.S. program in Cognitive Neuroscience at the Graduate Center, CUNY *Philosophy of Psychedelics is really two books in one. It provides an easily understood, scholarly and detailed review of psychedelic science, spanning phenomenology, psychology, neuroscience, and medical therapeutics. But setting this book apart from other recent books in this rapidly emerging field of inquiry, Chris Letheby takes his philosopher's scalpel to addressing intriguing philosophical implications of psychedelic research including the unsettling question of whether the claimed benefits from psychedelic experiences require the induction of delusional beliefs. This very readable volume should be of interest to scientists, philosophers, as well as those simply curious about the recent renaissance in psychedelic science and therapeutics. * Roland R. Griffiths, Ph.D. Director, Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research, Professor, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine *Philosophy of Psychedelics is a terrific, intellectually meticulous study of the nature, meaning, and effects of psychedelic experiences. The discussion ranges over the mind-brain relation, transformative experiences, the ethics of psychedelic therapy, and whether psychedelics help us to see the nature of things as they really are or just produce uplifting and therapeutically positive hallucinations. Chris Letheby is a wise and careful guide to the current state of psychedelic therapy and sets very high standards for philosophers who want to follow him in thinking responsibly about this intriguing area of research. * Owen Flanagan, James B. Duke Professor of Philosophy at Duke University, and the author of How to Do Things with Emotions Princeton 2021 *Table of ContentsIntroduction Introduction On the need for a natural philosophy of psychedelics Introduction The psychedelic renaissance Evidence for safety and efficacy An existential medicine? The Comforting Delusion Objection Naturalizing the entheogenic conception The phenomenology of psychedelic therapy Introduction Perception The sense of self The transformative process Conclusion The mechanisms of psychedelic therapy Introduction Neuroplasticity theories The Metaphysical Belief Theory The Metaphysical Alief Theory Conclusion The role of self-representation Introduction Psychological factors Neural correlates Neurocognitive explanation Conclusion Resetting the brain Introduction The Reset Theory Predictive processing Relaxed beliefs under psychedelics Resetting beliefs under psychedelics Unbinding the self Introduction Predictive self-binding Selfhood embodied and (temporally) extended A centre of representational gravity The self unbound Opacity and mystical epiphanies Psychedelic therapy: a two-factor theory Self and self-consciousness Conclusion Epistemology Introduction Psychopharmacology and epistemology Knowledge that Knowledge how Knowledge by acquaintance New knowledge of old facts Indirect epistemic benefits Epistemic innocence Spirituality Introduction Naturalizing spirituality Spirituality as unselfing Conclusion Testable predictions Future directions Naturalistic entheogenics

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Book SynopsisChristine M. Korsgaard presents an account of the foundation of practical reason and moral obligation. Moral philosophy aspires to understand the fact that human actions, unlike the actions of the other animals, can be morally good or bad, right or wrong. Few moral philosophers, however, have exploited the idea that actions might be morally good or bad in virtue of being good or bad of their kind - good or bad as actions. Just as we need to know that it is the function of the heart to pump blood to know that a good heart is one that pumps blood successfully, so we need to know what the function of an action is in order to know what counts as a good or bad action. Drawing on the work of Plato, Aristotle, and Kant, Korsgaard proposes that the function of an action is to constitute the agency and therefore the identity of the person who does it. As rational beings, we are aware of, and therefore in control of, the principles that govern our actions. A good action is one that constitutes its agent as the autonomous and efficacious cause of her own movements. These properties correspond, respectively, to Kant''s two imperatives of practical reason. Conformity to the categorical imperative renders us autonomous, and conformity to the hypothetical imperative renders us efficacious. And in determining what effects we will have in the world, we are at the same time determining our own identities. Korsgaard develops a theory of action and of interaction, and of the form interaction must take if we are to have the integrity that, she argues, is essential for agency. On the basis of that theory, she argues that only morally good action can serve the function of action, which is self-constitution.Trade Reviewa truly remarkable achievement, readable, learned, humane, and passionate. It is also beautifully written. Above all, it is exciting. * Timothy Chappell, Philosophy *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. Agency and Identity ; 2. The Metaphysics of Normativity ; 3. Formal and Substantive Principles of Reason ; 4. Practical Reason and the Unity of the Will ; 5. Autonomy & Efficacy ; 6. Expulsion from the Garden: The Transition to Humanity ; 7. The Constitutional Model ; 8. Defective Action ; 9. Integrity and Interaction ; 10. How to be a Person ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisIn Admirable Evasions, Theodore Dalrymple explains why human self-understanding has not been bettered by the false promises of the different schools of psychological thought. Most psychological explanations of human behavior are not only ludicrously inadequate oversimplifications, argues Dalrymple, they are socially harmful in that they allow those who believe in them to evade personal responsibility for their actions and to put the blame on a multitude of scapegoats: on their childhood, their genes, their neurochemistry, even on evolutionary pressures.Dalrymple reveals how the fashionable schools of psychoanalysis, behaviorism, modern neuroscience, and evolutionary psychology all prevent the kind of honest self-examination that is necessary to the formation of human character. Instead, they promote self-obsession without self-examination, and the gross overuse of medicines that affect the mind.Admirable Evasions also considers metaphysical objections to the assumptions of psychology, and suggests that literature is a far more illuminating window into the human condition than psychology could ever hope to be.

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Book Synopsis‘Immensely learned and ambitious…seam-bursting eclecticism and polymathic brio… This is by any standards a significant book and its author deserves high praise.’ Literary Review To imagine – to see that which is not there – is the startling ability that has fuelled human development and innovation through the centuries. As a species we stand alone in our remarkable capacity to refashion the world after the pictures in our minds. Traversing the realms of science, politics, religion, culture, philosophy and history, Felipe Fernández-Armesto reveals the thrilling and disquieting tales of our imaginative leaps. Through groundbreaking insights in cognitive science, he explores how and why we have ideas in the first place, providing a tantalising glimpse into who we are and what we might yet accomplish. Fernández-Armesto shows that bad ideas are often more influential than good ones; that the oldest recoverable thoughts include some of the best; that ideas of Western origin often issued from exchanges with the wider world; and that the pace of innovative thinking is under threat.Trade Review‘Immensely learned and ambitious…seam-bursting eclecticism and polymathic brio…This is by any standards a significant book and its author deserves high praise.’ * Literary Review *‘It is hard to do justice to the grand sweep of this book and the intriguing detail with which it abounds. If this is a book about ideas, there is one on every other page… brilliantly stimulating.’ * New Statesman *‘What we get here is an urbane and civilised observer, broad in his sympathies, mildly distrustful of religion, very distrustful of certainties and enthusiastic about pluralism. You may not always agree with him, but he’s very good company.’ * Evening Standard, Book of the Week *‘He is never less than stimulating. As a product himself of the liberal and sceptical decades of the later 20th century, there is a sense in his writing not of tenacious advocacy but a certain playfulness. All ideas – including his own – are stabs at understanding, part of the process that defines our species, the perennial urge to make sense of the world around us.’ * Spectator *‘A stimulating history of how the imagination interacted with its sibling psychological faculties – emotion, perception and reason – to shape the history of human mental life.’ * Wall Street Journal *‘Beginning with cognitive science, this global survey sweeps through leaps of thought from prehistory to today – a journey from unification to uncertainty, lit by minds such as China’s fourth-century-BC master of paradox Hui Shi and paradigm-smashing mathematician Henri Poincaré. Today, Fernández-Armesto argues, the trend is shifting as our homogenized “global culture” threatens the very exchanges that spark heroic ideas.’ * Barbara Kiser, Nature *‘[An] idiosyncratic, wide-ranging intellectual history…thought-provoking stuff.’ * BBC History Magazine *‘A bracing account of the central roles imagination, memory and language have played in human development around the world…Fernández-Armesto has the measure of just about everything…studded with pungent apophthegms and mordant aphorisms. Few pages go by without the reader smiling or, occasionally, laughing.’ * The Tablet *‘…a triumph. Preternaturally erudite, always intelligible, often witty, Out of Our Minds should be essential reading not just for historians of ideas, but for all readers interested in the human past.’ -- Niall Ferguson, Milbank Family Senior Fellow, the Hoover Institution, Stanford‘Brilliant and profound, Out of Our Minds is a masterly survey of humanity’s unique imaginative leaps, from hominid cannibalism to our current global convergence. Fernández-Armesto is the leading practitioner of big history, and here he takes on no less than the entire span of human history. Gone are the great men, replaced instead by the ideas – good and bad – that have made us human. Written with his trademark panache and wry humour, this book challenges every assumption you’ve ever had about who we are and where we came from.’ -- Jerry Brotton, Professor of Renaissance Studies, Queen Mary University of London, and author of A History of the World in 12 Maps‘A sparkling account of how imagination and ideas have shaped the strange history of Homo sapiens over more than two hundred thousand years.’ -- David Christian, author of Origin Story‘With its majestic sweep, this refreshing book covers a great many subjects with considerable authority. Felipe Fernández-Armesto is a gifted writer, guiding the reader through subtleties without failing to illustrate his complex ideas with a telling example.’ -- Daniel Lord Smail, Frank B. Baird, Jr. Professor of History, Harvard University

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Book SynopsisConversations on Consciousness is just that - a series of twenty lively and challenging conversations between Sue Blackmore and some of the world''s leading philosophers and scientists. Written in a colloquial and engaging style the book records the conversations Sue had when she met these influential thinkers, whether at conferences in Arizona or Antwerp, or in their labs or homes in Oxford or San Diego. The conversations bring out their very different personalities and styles and reveal a wealth of fascinating detail about their theories and beliefs. Why is consciousness such a special and difficult issue for twenty-first century science? Sue, herself a researcher into this controversial and difficult topic, begins by asking each of her colleagues this simple question and is immediately plunged into the depths of the debate: How do the subjective experiences we call consciousness arise from the physical brain? Is this even the right question to ask? Can zombies - people who behave ouTrade Reviewa fascinating insight * Guardian *Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. Bernard Baars ; 3. Ned Block ; 4. David Chalmers ; 5. Patricia and Paul Churchland ; 6. Francis Crick ; 7. Daniel Dennett ; 8. Susan Greenfield ; 9. Richard Gregory ; 10. Stuart Hameroff ; 11. Christof Koch ; 12. Stephen LaBerge ; 13. Thomas Metzinger ; 14. Roger Penrose ; 15. Kevin O'Regan ; 16. Vilayanur Ramachandran ; 17. John Searle ; 18. Petra Stoerig ; 19. Francisco Varela ; 20. Max Velmans ; 21. Daniel Wegner ; Glossary ; Index

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Book SynopsisThe Phenomenology of Pregnancy and Early Motherhood provides an ethical, social, and psychological investigation of the process of becoming a mother. Through a phenomenological analysis that engages with feminist philosophy, medical ethics, philosophy of care, and phenomenological psychology, Susi Ferrarello unravels the intricacies of this transformative phase of life to shed light on layers of lived experiences that impact the well-being of the woman. This book addresses the complexity of common lived-experiences characterizing this transition; the overarching period from the first to the fourth trimester, issues concerning maternal-fetal bonding, breastfeeding, PDAM, loss of identity and coming back to work. Enriched by case studies from Ferrarelloâs philosophical counseling practice, the book provides a compassionate and insightful exploration of the struggles, triumphs, and moments of self-revelation that mothers encounter in their daily lives. By exploring the heart o

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Book SynopsisModern philosophy finds it difficult to give a satisfactory picture of the place of minds in the world. In Mind and World, one of the most distinguished philosophers writing today offers his diagnosis of this difficulty and points to a cure.Trade ReviewEver since Descartes, a lot of the very best philosophers have thought of science as an invading army from whose depredations safe havens have somehow to be constructed. Philosophy patrols the borders, keeping the sciences ‘intellectually respectable’ by keeping them ‘within…proper bounds.’ But you have to look outside these bounds if what you care about is the life of the spirit or the life of the mind. McDowell’s is as good a contemporary representative of this kind of philosophical sensibility as you could hope to find. -- Jerry Fodor * London Review of Books *Mind and World is, above all, a work of therapy; and, like every good talking cure, it is hard work. But the diagnosis is penetrating, deeply persuasive, and expressed with that ear for the right phrase precisely placed which is the literary equivalent of perfect pitch. -- Max de Gaynesford * Australasian Journal of Philosophy *McDowell locates an important tension in our thinking about thought, suggests an attractive way of easing the tension, and offers a plausible diagnosis of why the tension is acute… Mind and World is a genuinely provocative book that should be discussed. -- Paul M. Pietroski * Canadian Journal of Philosophy *A powerfully impressive book which simply towers over the more routine contributions of current analytical philosophy. -- Simon Glendinning * Radical Philosophy *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Lecture I. Concepts and Intuitions Lecture II. The Unboundedness of the Conceptual Lecture III. Non-conceptual Content Lecture IV. Reason and Nature Lecture V. Action, Meaning, and the Self Lecture VI. Rational and Other Animals Afterword Part I. Davidson in Context Part II. Postscript to Lecture III Part III. Postscript to Lecture V Part IV. Postscript to Lecture VI Index

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Book SynopsisOften we act neither for our own sake nor out of duty or an impersonal concern for the world. Rather, we act out of love for objects that we rightly perceive as worthy of love - and it is these actions that give meaning to our lives. This title states that this kind of meaningfulness constitutes a distinctive dimension of a good life.Trade Review"Given the unfortunate (but arguably necessary) divorce of psychology from philosophy more than a century ago, books like Meaning in Life and Why It Matters, which allow for dialogue between these disciplines, are a much-needed and much-welcomed development... Wolf's essay is a psychologically sophisticated philosophical argument on the structure, reality, and importance of meaningfulness in life. Its psychological sophistication lies not in her mastery of any particular empirical literature but rather in her attentiveness to normal, everyday intuitions and feelings."--Russell D. Kosits, PsycCRITIQUESTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction by Stephen Macedo xi MEANING IN LIFE AND WHY IT MATTERS Meaning in Life 1 Why It Matters 34 COMMENTS AND RESPONSE John Koethe 67 Robert M. Adams 75 Nomy Arpaly 85 Jonathan Haidt 92 Response Susan Wolf 102 Contributors 133 Index 137

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“An ingenious piece of work; a brilliant essay in comparative philosophy. The whole presentation is delightful.” — Prof. Paul Seligman, author of The aperion of Anaximander and Being and Not-Being: An Introduction to Plato’s Sophist“A work of intrinsic merit; competent and philosophically adept. The general public, as well as academics, will enjoy reading this book, and will profit from doing so.” — Prof. Robert Carter, Trent University, author of The Dimensions of Moral Education (U of Toronto Press)“The book addresses issues of central and critical importance. It is well written and concieved … it is unorthodox in its approach … it is a pleasure to read.” — Prof. Alan R. Dregson, University of Victoria“The thesis is clear; the demonstration is convincing. The scholarship is impeccable, and the author displays a well articulated understanding of the various [philosophical positions] he evokes through the characters of the dialogue.” — Claude Lagadec, University of Montreal“ … an exceptionally well-written book, on a subject of fundamental importance.” — Canadian Philosophical ReviewsTable of ContentsThe SoliloquyAfternoon — Erosion From WithinAristos of GnosisRenéImmanuelDavidFriedrichLudwigThe Brother From ElisThe Storm - Assault From WithoutChangNagarajAfter the Storm — Metamorphosis RenéImmanuelDavidFriedrichLudwigChangThe Brother From Elis Evening — The Magic of UnknowingThe Common BroodingAuthor’s Note

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Book SynopsisAre we thinking too much and living too little? Why are we missing out on so much of our life? Dianetics has some answers you may have been looking for. Many of us are aware that the worries, doubts and reservations in our own mind are more often than not the greatest obstacles to the fulfilling life we so much desire. It seems that our thoughts are not truly free - with many of them stemming from an emotional and subconscious level that can fix our attention and pull us down. What if you could free your thoughts and shed their weight and pain from your own mind? This is what Dianetics is about. What triggers our thinking? What is the mind really? What is the source of stress? Dianetics is the breakthrough that has enabled us to understand for the first time how our thinking works - consciously and subconsciously. Dianetics includes a practical approach that makes it possible to remove these stumbling blocks and actually experience a resurgence of life energy and positivity that makes a noticeable difference in a person's happiness and success. Reading the book alone and understanding the simple logic behind the seemingly complex structure of the mind gives a completely new perspective in life. Based on observation and discoveries, Dianetics goes beyond theory and describes an easy-to-use method to free your mind from this burden. The application is what produces a real change, and what sets this book apart from others. The practical success made Dianetics an international bestseller, with 22 Million copies sold and translated into 53 languages.

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Book SynopsisJust as a garden needs worms, we need bad feelings....We tend to think about bad feelings--feelings like anger, envy, spite, and contempt--as the weeds in life''s garden. You may not be able to get rid of them completely, but you''re supposed to battle them as best you can. The best garden is one with no weeds. The best life is one with no bad feelings. But this isn''t quite right, according to philosopher Krista K. Thomason. Bad feelings are the worms, not the weeds. They''re just below the surface, and we like to pretend they aren''t there, but they serve an important purpose. Worms are just as much a part of the garden as the flowers, and their presence means your garden is thriving. Gardens aren''t better off without their worms, and neither are we. The trick is learning how to enjoy our gardens, worms and all. Thomason draws on insights from the history of philosophy to show what we''ve gotten wrong about bad feelings and to show readers how we can live better with them. There is Table of ContentsPart I: The Garden Introduction: Weeds, Worms and Communing with the Dead Chapter One: Emotional Saints Chapter Two: Taming the Beasts Chapter Three: Make Room for the Devil Part II: The Worms Chapter Four: Anger Chapter Five: Envy and Jealousy Chapter Six: Spite and Schadenfreude Chapter Seven: Contempt Conclusion: An Elegy for Zilu Acknowledgments Notes

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a framework for thinking about foundational philosophical questions surrounding the use of deep artificial neural networks (deep learning) to achieve artificial intelligence. Specifically, it links recent breakthroughs to classic works in empiricist philosophy of mind. In recent assessments of deep learning''s potential, scientists have cited historical figures from the philosophical debate between nativism and empiricism, which concerns the origins of abstract knowledge. These empiricists were faculty psychologists; that is, they argued that the extraction of abstract knowledge from experience involves the active engagement of psychological faculties such as perception, memory, imagination, attention, and empathy. This book explains how recent deep learning breakthroughs realized some of the most ambitious ideas about these faculties from philosophers such as Aristotle, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), John Locke, David Hume, William James, and Sophie de Grouchy. It illustrates

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Book SynopsisAdam Sandel revives one of the oldest philosophical questions: What constitutes a good life? Drawing on thinkers ancient and modern, as well as his own experience as a record-setting athlete, he argues that fulfillment lies not in achieving goals but in forging a life journey that enables us to see our struggles and triumphs as an integrated whole.Trade ReviewHere, at last, is a book about what happiness really means, and why it often eludes us in our stressed-out, always-on lives. Adam Sandel, a young philosopher with wisdom beyond his years, ranges from Socrates to popular culture to show that happiness is not about piling up achievements but about living life as a journey, in harmony with nature and in the company of friends. -- Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO, ThriveHappiness in Action points the way to a deeper life. In this spirited and humane book, Adam Sandel shows that happiness does not lie in a string of accomplishments, but in attending to the moments that unfold as we are absorbed in meaningful activities, and forging from these moments the narrative coherence of our lives. -- Matthew Crawford, author of Shop Class as SoulcraftAdam Sandel’s book will help bring philosophy back to the place it once held—as a central pursuit whose value is open to all. His philosophical exposition unwinds itself with grace and clarity, giving readers a new and richer understanding of what it means to live for the journey. -- Sean D. Kelly, coauthor of All Things ShiningA remarkable book. It addresses an omnipresent and vexing subject—how to live a fulfilling life—with verve, creativity, and wisdom. Adam Sandel’s eloquent prescription bristles with insights drawn from deep study and fearless reflection. I was surprised, enthralled, instructed, and elevated as I read. -- Randall Kennedy, author of Say It Loud!Proposes that fulfillment comes not from racking up successes, but from losing ourselves in activities that we find meaningful…Offers much to ponder; Sandel’s critiques of technology and its effects on our judgment and agency are particularly resonant. * Christian Science Monitor *Adam Sandel brings learning, wisdom, and clarity to age-old questions about how to live a life of happiness and meaning. At once immersed in the insights from classical Western thinkers and alert to his own experiences and challenges, Sandel offers perspective and consolation relevant to our challenging times, and perhaps, to any age. -- Martha Minow, author of When Should Law Forgive?Drawing on his own experiences, Sandel makes philosophy accessible for readers who, in their own infinitely various ways, struggle with the tension between goal-oriented striving and the embrace of life as a journey. -- Daniel Moran * New Books Network *Through thoughtful engagement with ancient philosophy, Sandel proves there are still fresh arguments to be made about how to live a fulfilling life. Falling somewhere between an erudite self-help manual and an accessible philosophical treatise, this provides plenty to ponder. * Publishers Weekly *Adam Sandel’s book reclaims for philosophy what has recently been captured by the vast self-help literature: the question of how to live a good and worthy life. Sandel offers a compelling critique of goal-driven activity and offers a moving alternative that emphasizes the virtues of self-possession, friendship, and engagement with nature. Written with great clarity in a wonderfully compelling manner, this exquisite work engages the vital questions of how to live without jargon and yet with depth and subtlety. -- Moshe Halbertal, author of Maimonides: Life and Thought

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Book SynopsisMany consider the nature of human consciousness to be one of the last great unsolved mysteries. Why should the light turn on, so to speak, in human beings at all? And how is the electrical storm of neurons under our skull connected with our consciousness? Is the self only our brain’s user interface, a kind of stage on which a show is performed that we cannot freely direct? In this book, philosopher Markus Gabriel challenges an increasing trend in the sciences towards neurocentrism, a notion which rests on the assumption that the self is identical to the brain. Gabriel raises serious doubts as to whether we can know ourselves in this way. In a sharp critique of this approach, he presents a new defense of the free will and provides a timely introduction to philosophical thought about the self – all with verve, humor, and surprising insights. Gabriel criticizes the scientific image of the world and takes us on an eclectic journey of self-reflection by way of such concepts as self, consciousness, and freedom, with the aid of Kant, Schopenhauer, and Nagel but also Dr. Who, The Walking Dead, and Fargo.Trade Review"Challenging the lofty claims of many neuroscientists.... Markus Gabriel has written a wonderfully polemical work. Its clearly developed arguments and lively examples are highly convincing."—Die Welt "It is a rare gift to be able to philosophize from first principles in a way that is neither patronizingly derivative nor technically arcane and in a manner that is accessible to the general reader. But Gabriel possesses that gift in bucketloads."—Simon Critchley, New School for Social Research "Markus Gabriel is a speculative wunderkind."—Neue Zürcher Zeitüng "Gabriel's engaging, accessible and incisive introduction to the philosophy of mind tackles the deep problems raised by both classical thinkers and modern neuroscience. Bringing the zombies and homunculi of the philosophical debates together with the Daleks and Fargo, it is as illuminating as it is enjoyable."—Dr. Sacha Golob, King's College London "Nowadays, 'The Brain' has taken over all the attributes with which the Modernity endowed 'the Subject.' Against this travesty, Markus Gabriel makes subjectivity as such prominent again and, by so doing, maybe, helps us make better sense of the brain as well."—Jocelyn Benoist, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne "Gabriel shows up the flaws and contradictions in reductive theories of mind, based on natural science. His many-facetted argument, where the technical terms are explained in an engaging and available language, with frequent references to contemporary science fiction films and stories, culminates in a powerful vision of 21st-century humanism."—Charles Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, McGill University "Only 37, Gabriel is demonstrating that German philosophers can find a wide audience — without being merely slick or superficial."—Foreign PolicyTable of ContentsIntroduction Mind and Geist Elementary Particles and Conscious Organisms The Decade of the Brain Can the Mind Be Free in a Brain Scan? The Self as a USB-Stick Neuromania and Darwinitis – The Example of Fargo Mind – Brain – Ideology The Cartography of Self-Interpretation I. What is at Stake in the Philosophy of Mind? Mind in the Universe? In the Spirit of Hegel The Historical Animal on the Social Stage Why not Everything, but at least Something is Teleological II. Consciousness I See Something That You Do Not See! Neuronal Thunderstorms and the Arena of Consciousness Buddha, the Snake and the Bat – Again Surfing On the Wave of Neuro-Kantianism Nothing Is Beyond Our Experience – Or Is There? Faith, Love, Hope – Are They All Just Illusions? An Altruist is Lodged in Every Ego Davidson’s Dog and Derrida’s Cat Tasty Consciousness The Intelligence of the Robot Vacuum Cleaner Strange Days – The Noise of Consciousness What Mary Still Doesn’t Know The Discovery of the Universe in a Monastery Sensations are Not Subtitles to a Chinese Movie God’s-Eye View III. Self-Consciousness How History Can Expand Our Consciousness Monads in the Mill Bio is Not Always Better than Techno How the Clown Attempted To Get Rid of Omnipotence Self-Consciousness in a Circle IV. Who or What Is This Thing We Call: The Self? The Reality of Illusions Puberty-Reductionism and the Toilet Theory Self is God Fichte: The Almost Forgotten Grandmaster of the Self The Three Pillars of the Science of Knowledge In the Human Being Nature Opens her Eyes and Sees that She Exists ‘Let Daddy Take Care of this’: Freud and Stromberg Drives Meet Hard Facts Oedipus and the Milk Carton V. Freedom Can I Will Not to Will What I Will? The Self is Not a One-Armed Bandit Why Cause and Reason are Not the Same Thing and What That Has to Do with Tomato Sauce Friendly Smites Meanie and Defeats Metaphysical Pessimism Human Dignity is Inviolable On the Same Level as God or Nature? PS: There Are No Savages Man is Not a Face Drawn in Sand Notes Bibliography Index of Concepts Index of Names

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Book SynopsisHow the Body Shapes the Mind is an interdisciplinary work that addresses philosophical questions by appealing to evidence found in experimental psychology, neuroscience, studies of pathologies, and developmental psychology. There is a growing consensus across these disciplines that the contribution of embodiment to cognition is inescapable. Because this insight has been developed across a variety of disciplines, however, there is still a need to develop a common vocabulary that is capable of integrating discussions of brain mechanisms in neuroscience, behavioural expressions in psychology, design concerns in artificial intelligence and robotics, and debates about embodied experience in the phenomenology and philosophy of mind. Shaun Gallagher''s book aims to contribute to the formulation of that common vocabulary and to develop a conceptual framework that will avoid both the overly reductionistic approaches that explain everything in terms of bottom-up neuronal mechanisms, and inflationistic approaches that explain everything in terms of Cartesian, top-down cognitive states. Gallagher pursues two basic sets of questions. The first set consists of questions about the phenomenal aspects of the structure of experience, and specifically the relatively regular and constant features that we find in the content of our experience. If throughout conscious experience there is a constant reference to one''s own body, even if this is a recessive or marginal awareness, then that reference constitutes a structural feature of the phenomenal field of consciousness, part of a framework that is likely to determine or influence all other aspects of experience. The second set of questions concerns aspects of the structure of experience that are more hidden, those that may be more difficult to get at because they happen before we know it. They do not normally enter into the content of experience in an explicit way, and are often inaccessible to reflective consciousness. To what extent, and in what ways, are consciousness and cognitive processes, which include experiences related to perception, memory, imagination, belief, judgement, and so forth, shaped or structured by the fact that they are embodied in this way?Trade Review...this book is a massive interdisciplinary achievement and a major contribution to a better understanding of the role of embodiment in consciousness and cognition ... His book combines an impressive knowledge of contemporary research in the cognitive and neurocognitive sciences with a keen sense of the deep and important philosophical issues this research raises. It deserves to be read by anyone interested in the contribution of embodiment to cognition. * Elisabeth Pacherie, Mind *Table of ContentsPART I: SCIENTIFIC AND PHENOMENOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS OF EMBODIMENT ; PART II: EXCURSIONS IN PHILOSOPHY AND PATHOLOGY

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThe book comes at a particularly opportune political moment, as much of the world is experiencing upsurges in group-directed hatred. The author's analysis of this form of hatred and, particularly, her suggestions for how to address it make this book indispensable. * R. R. Cornelius, CHOICE *In this important and timely work, Berit Brogaard takes on an profoundly important topic that has been surprisingly neglected by other philosophers: the psychology of hatred. Brogaard's artful exploration of the ways our animosities shape our lives is at once deeply disturbing and profoundly engaging; the reader who follows her to journey's end will be rewarded with a deepened understanding of what is it is be human, and how we all might be human better. Hatred is a remarkably substantial, sophisticated, and spirited contribution to public philosophy, and I wish we had lot more philosophy like it. * John Doris, Cornell University *Hate turns into a wonderfully fertile source of serious thinking in Berit Brogaard's hands. When it is morally defensible to hate? When is it dehumanizing? If how and what we hate defines us, here is a timely and thoughtful manual on how to hate better and more critically. * Laura Kipnis, Northwestern University *Table of Contents1. Hit Me with Your Best Shot: An Anatomy of the Antagonistic Emotions 2. It's a Thin Line between Love and Hate: When We Hate the People We Love 3. Angel of Retribution: Vengeance and Hate's Justification 4. Bad to the Bone: Hate as a Trait 5. Killing in the Name Of: Collective Intentionality and Group Hate 6. Baby, It's in Your Nature: Misogyny, Femininity and Female Filth 7. Keep the Change, You Filthy Animal: The American Phantasy 8. A Change is Gonna Come: Hate Speech, Group Libel and Rational Discourse

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Book SynopsisThis book tells the story of idealism in modern philosophy, from the seventeenth century to the turn of the twenty-first. Guyer and Horstmann discuss many philosophers who have played a role in the development of idealism, including Descartes, Hobbes, Spinoza, Leibniz, Locke, Berkeley, Hume, Kant, Hegel, Schopenhauer, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein.Table of ContentsPreface 1: Introduction 2: Idealism in Early Modern Rationalism 3: Idealism in Early Modern British Philosophy 4: Kant 5: German Idealism 6: German Reactions against Idealism I: Schopenhauer and Nietzsche 7: British and American Idealism 8: The Rejection of British Idealism 9: German Reactions Against Idealism II: Neo-Kantianism without Idealism 10: Further into the Twentieth Century 11: Conclusion Bibliography

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Book SynopsisLeading philosopher Quassim Cassam introduces epistemic vices, drawing on recent political phenomena including Brexit and Trump to explore such ''vices of the mind''.Manifesting as character traits, attitudes, or thinking styles, epistemic vices prevent us from having or sharing knowledge. Cassam gives an account of the nature and importance of these vices, which include closed-mindedness, intellectual arrogance, wishful thinking, and prejudice. In providing the first extensive coverage of vice epistemology, an exciting new area of philosophical research, Vices of the Mind uses real examples drawn primarily from the world of politics to develop a compelling theory of epistemic vice. Key events such as the 2003 Iraq War and the 2016 Brexit vote, and notable figures including Donald Trump and Boris Johnson are analysed in detail to illustrate what epistemic vice looks like in the modern world. The traits covered in this landmark work include a hitherto unrecognised epistemic vice Trade ReviewIt is great to see philosophers paying more attention to vice, and Cassam has provided a compelling framework for epistemic vice that should prove both useful and fruitful for some time to come. * Denise Vigani, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice *Cassam has laid the groundwork for future research on the nature, development, and expression of epistemic vice, and we may reasonably hope that subsequent work will make vice epistemology more thoroughgoingly social. * Mark Alfano, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice *One of the book's many excellent features is its use of case studies from recent history. * Alexandra Plakias, Ethical Theory and Moral Practice *Review from previous edition The publication of Cassam's Vices of the Mind is a landmark in the study of epistemic vices. * Alessandra Tanesini, Mind *This timely book should be read by all who wonder why the quality of political life and decision-making in the US has deteriorated. * M.A. Michael, CHOICE *A superb (and icily furious) book * Steven Poole, New Statesman *An excellent introduction to the debates about epistemic vices and is easy to engage regardless of one's philosophical background. In being the first book-length treatment of epistemic vices, Vices of the Mind is sure to shape the debates surrounding epistemic vices for some time. * Social Epistemology Review and Reply Collective *absorbing * Pete Burgess, The Philosopher *A stimulating and lively consideration of what the philosopher Quassim Cassam calls 'epistemic vices'. * Process North *Table of Contents1: The Anatomy of Vice 2: A Question of Character 3: Vicious Thinking 4: Epistemic Postures 5: Vice and Knowledge 6: Vice and Responsibility 7: Stealthy Vices 8: Self-Improvement

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface I. Questions from Neuroscientists for Philosophers 1. What is an intention? - Gideon Yaffe 2. What is a will? - Pamela Hieronymi 3. When is an action voluntary? - Pamela Hieronymi 4. What is freedom? - Walter Sinnott-Armstrong 5. What is free will? - Timothy O'Connor 6. Can there be free will in a determined universe? - Timothy O'Connor 7. Does free will come in degrees? - Jonathan Hall & Tillmann Vierkant 8. How can we determine whether or not we have free will? - Alfred R. Mele 9. What kind of neuroscientific evidence, if any, could determine whether anyone has free will? - Adina L. Roskies 10. What kind of behavioral experiments, if any could determine whether anyone has free will? - Tim Bayne 11. Can a robot with artificial intelligence have free will? - Jonathan Hall & Tillmann Vierkant 12. Do conscious decisions cause physical actions? - Ned Block 13. How is consciousness related to freedom of action or will? - Tim Bayne 14. How is responsibility related to free will, control, and action? - Gideon Yaffe 15. What are reasons? - Walter Sinnott-Armstrong II. Questions from Philosophers for Neuroscientists 16. What are the main stages in the neural processes that produce actions? - Patrick Haggard & Elisabeth Parés-Pujolràs 17. Does the will correspond to any clearly delineated brain area or activity? - Gabriel Kreiman 18. How are the neural processes for deciding when to move similar and different from those for deciding what or how to move? - Antonio Ivano Triggiani & Mark Hallett 19. How are arbitrary and deliberate decisions similar and different? - Jye Bold, Liad Mudrik, & Uri Maoz 20. How do higher-level brain areas exert control over lower-level brain areas? - Mark Hallett 21. What are intentional actions? - Elisabeth Parés-Pujolràs & Patrick Haggard 22. What evidence is there that intentions are represented in the brain? - John-Dylan Haynes 23. What is known about the neural correlates of specific beliefs and desires that inform human choices? - Amber Hopkins & Uri Maoz 24. How can we determine whether or not an agent is conscious of a bit of information relevant to an action? - Liad Mudrik & Aaron Schurger 25. Which neural mechanisms could enable conscious control of action? - Jake Gavenas, Mark Hallett, & Uri Maoz 26. How does the absence of a consensus about the neural basis of consciousness and volition affect theorizing about conscious volition? - Amber Hopkins, Liad Mudrik, & Uri Maoz 27. How can we determine the precise timing of brain events related to action? - Mark Hallett & Aaron Schurger 28. How can we determine the precise timing of mental events related to action? - Sae Jin Lee, Sook Mun (Alice) Wong, Uri Maoz, & Mark Hallett 29. Are any neural processes truly random (or stochastic)? - Hans Liljenström 30. How can computational models help us understand free will? - Gabriel Kreiman, Hans Liljenström, Aaron Schurger, & Uri Maoz Brain Maps - Amber Hopkins and Natalie Nichols Glossary - Claire Simmons and Amber Hopkins Annotated Bibliography - Deniz Ar?türk and Amber Hopkins

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Book SynopsisThis book develops a theory of enriched meanings for natural language interpretation that uses the concept of monads and related ideas from category theory, a branch of mathematics that has been influential in theoretical computer science and elsewhere. Certain expressions that exhibit complex effects at the semantics/pragmatics boundary live in an enriched meaning space, while others live in a more basic meaning space. These basic meanings are mapped to enriched meanings only when required compositionally, which avoids generalizing meanings to the worst case. Ash Asudeh and Gianluca Giorgolo show that the monadic theory of enriched meanings offers a formally and computationally well-defined way to tackle important challenges at the semantics/pragmatics boundary. In particular, they develop innovative monadic analyses of three phenomena - conventional implicature, substitution puzzles, and conjunction fallacies - and demonstrate that the compositional properties of monads model linguistic intuitions about these cases particularly well. The analyses are accompanied by exercises to aid understanding, and the computational tools used are available on the book''s companion website. The book also contains background chapters on enriched meanings and category theory. The volume is interdisciplinary in nature, with insights from semantics, pragmatics, philosophy of language, psychology, and computer science, and will appeal to graduate students and researchers from a wide range of disciplines with an interest in natural language understanding and representation.Table of Contents1: Introduction Part I: Background 2: Enriched meanings in semantics and pragmatics 3: Category theory Part II: Case Studies 4: Conventional implicature 5: Perspectival reference 6: Uncertainty and conjunction fallacies Part III: Composition and Interactions 7: Monad combinatorics 8: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisIn Perception: First Form of Mind, Tyler Burge develops an understanding of the most primitive type of mental representational: perception. Focusing on the functions and capacities of perceptual states, Burge accounts for their representational content and structure, and develops a formal semantics for them. The discussion explains the role of iconic format in the structure. It also situates the accounts of content, structure, and semantics within scientific explanations of perceptual-state formation, emphasizing formation of perceptual categorization. In the book''s second half, Burge discusses what a perceptual system is. Exploration of relations between perception and other primitive capacities-conation, attention, memory, anticipation, affect, learning, and imagining-helps distinguish perceiving, with its associated capacities, from thinking, with its associated capacities. Drawing mainly on vision science, not introspection, Perception: First Form of Mind is a rigorous, agenda-setTable of ContentsPreface Part I: Perception 1: Introduction 2: Perception 3: Perceptual Constancy: A Central Psychological Natural Kind Part II: Form 4: Some Basics about Perception and Perceptual Systems 5: Perceptual Reference Requires Perceptual Attribution 6: Form and Semantics of Perceptual Representational Contents 7: Perceptual Attributives and Referential Applications in Perceptual Constancies 8: Egocentric Indexing in Perceptual Spatial and Temporal Frameworks 9: The Iconic Nature of Perception Part III: Formation 10: First-formed Perception 11: Intra-saccadic Perception and Recurrent Processing 12: Further Attributives: Primitive Attribution of Causation, Agency Part IV: System 13: Perceptual-level Representation and Categorization 14: Perceptual-level Conation and Relatively Primitive, Perceptually Guided Action 15: Perceptual Attention 16: Perceptual Memory I: Shorter Term Systems 17: Perceptual Memory II: Visual Perceptual Long-Term Memory 18: Perceptual Learning, Perceptual Anticipation, Perceptual Imagining 19: Perception and Cognition 20: Conclusion

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Book SynopsisWhat makes us human? Richard Swinburne presents new philosophical arguments, supported by modern neuroscience, for the view that we are immaterial souls sustained in existence by our brains.Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Richard Swinburne is a dualist of long standing, in the tradition of Descartes, and in this book he offers a comprehensive exposition and defense of the position, which makes its philosophical motivation clear. Even those who are not persuaded can be grateful to Swinburne for explaining the distinctive appeal of this significant view . . . If Swinburne is right, we know who we are. If he is wrong, his arguments show that our natural sense of ourselves includes a large dose of stubborn illusion. * Thomas Nagel, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *Are We Bodies or Souls? is a remarkable book. This comparatively brief volume restates and re-argues the main contentions of earlier writings, including two earlier books, as well as some conclusions that are new in this volume. It does this in a way that Swinburne rightly considers more widely accessible than his earlier work on the topic. * William Hasker, Roczniki Filozoficze *[A] lucid and powerfully argued defense of substance dualism. * John Cottingham, Roczniki Filozoficze *Whether or not the argument is persuasive, Are We Bodies or Souls? is excellent. It deepens the debate for professional philosophers, and carefully introduces a wide audience to a big question, a big answer, and a big argument. It is especially useful for courses in metaphysics and philosophy of mind. * Tyron Goldschmidt, Religious Studies *One of the very best defenses of Cartesian substance dualism currently on offer. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about how such a view might be defended today. * Jeremy W. Skrzypek, Roczniki Filozoficze *One can only admire the erudition, philosophical acumen, and fair-mindedness with which he defends his position. Swinburne is in that class of thinkers from whom one always learns much, even when one ends up having to disagree. * Edward Feser, First Things *I strongly recommend this book to any readers who are interested in the philosophical theme of substance dualism and all those who are familiar with his earlier books on this theme ... Swinburne takes care to evaluate Descartes and his thought in detail by identifying and bringing to light what he considers the errors manifested in his thought. * Naveen George o.f.m, ESSSAT News & Reviews *An illuminating book. * Paradigm Explorer *[Swinburne's] greatest achievement has been to put substance dualism back in play as an option in the philosophy of mind. * Howard Robinson, Roczniki Filozoficze *An interesting and challenging read. For those who are seriously interested in philosophy of mind, this book deserves a spot in their library. . . . Are We Bodies or Souls? is a work of pure philosophy of the highest caliber. * Apologetics 315 *Swinburne is seriously analytical in his treatment of rival theories and the evidence for them ... Swinburne's argument is clear, assured, and unapologetic * Rt Revd Dr John Saxbee, former Bishop of Lincoln, Church Times *It is worth the careful attention it demands. * Church of England Newspaper *Table of Contents1: Introduction 2: Physicalism and Property Dualism 3: Theories of Personal Identity 4: Descartes's Argument for the Soul 5: We know who we are 6: Souls and bodies interact 7: Could science explain souls? 8: Guide to Further Reading

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Book SynopsisHuman actions unfold over time, in pursuit of ends that are not fully specified in advance. Rational Powers in Action locates these features of the human condition at the heart of a new theory of instrumental rationality. Where many theories of rational agency focus on instantaneous choices between sharply defined outcomes, treating the temporally extended and partially open-ended character of action as an afterthought, this book argues that the deep structure of instrumental rationality can only be understood if we see how it governs the pursuit of long-term, indeterminate ends. These are ends that cannot be realized through a single momentary action, and whose content leaves partly open what counts as realizing the end. Sergio Tenenbaum argues that we need to focus on temporal duration and the indeterminacy of ends in intentional action, even to explain the rational governance of relatively simple actions. Theories of moment-by-moment preference maximization, or indeed any understanding of instrumental rationality on the basis of momentary mental items, cannot capture the fundamental structure of our instrumentally rational capacities. Tenenbaum provides a new theory of instrumental rationality as rationality in action.Trade ReviewRational Powers in Action is a major contribution not only to philosophy but to economic theory as well. It presents many issues in a new light, and that is no mean achievement. * David Gordon, Philosophical Quarterly *Tenenbaum's Rational Power in Action is a tour de force. With its fresh, exciting, and insightful arguments, it promises to shift the conceptual foundations of action theory away from momentary actions and choices toward thinking of those in an extended way. Theories of action or instrumental rationality must now engage this landmark work or risk obsolescence. * Nathan Howard, Ethics *Sergio Tenenbaum's Rational Powers in Action presents a new theory of instrumental rationality . . . Tenenbaum writes in a breezy and engaging style, and the book does a good job of putting forward his theory as an attractive candidate * Seamus Bradley, Economics and Philosophy *In his excellent new book, Rational Powers in Action . . . Sergio Tenenbaum develops a theory of instrumental rationality which goes fundamentally against the dominant approaches in the contemporary debate. . . . [a] great variety and wealth of discussions the book offers, and I very much recommend anyone interested in the topic of instrumental rationality to read it. * Erasmus Mayr, Mind *Theories of instrumental rationality provide, roughly speaking, evaluations and imperatives regarding choice or action that figure as relative to certain basic given attitudes or stances of the agent. Such theories often abstract away from the fact that actions are generally temporally extended and from crucial complications associated with this fact. Sergio Tenenbaum's Rational Powers in Action (2020) reveals and navigates these complications with great acuity, ultimately providing a powerful revisionary picture of instrumental rationality that highlights the extremely limited nature of the standard picture (which focuses on the selection of momentary acts, chosen and effected—in auspicious cases wherein they are not blocked—at a choice point) * Chrisoula Andreou, Philosophical Inquiries *In his excellent book, Rational Powers in Action: Instrumental Rationality and Extended Agency, Sergio Tenenbaum lays out a highly ambitious, original, and powerful theory of instrumental rationality, which he calls the “extended theory of instrumental rationality” * John Brunero, Philosophical Inquiries *Rational Powers in Action is a brilliant book. It is an extensive, resourceful, enjoyably-written articulation and defense of a genuinely new theory of instrumental rationality. It seeks to overthrow the tyranny of orthodox decision theory, understood as a theory of instrumental rationality, but it does so from within a profound grasp of that tradition. Further, the book takes aim at the relatively widespread view that “future-directed intentions” are attitudes governed by distinctive rational norms of non-reconsideration and persistence. Those who are inclined to continue holding these views—like myself, in the latter case—will have to contend going forward with Tenenbaum's powerful arguments against them. * Sarah Paul, Philosophical Inquiries *Sergio Tenenbaum's excellent new book Rational Powers in Action raises a powerful challenge to mainstream theories of instrumental rationality. * Erasmus Mayr, Philosophical Inquiries *Table of Contents1: Extended Action and Instrumental Rationality: The Structure of a Theory of Instrumental Rationality 2: Extended Theory of Rationality: Basic Tenets and Motivations 3: Pursuing Ends as the Fundamental Given Attitude 4: Indeterminate Ends and the Puzzle of the Self-Torturer 5: Future-Directed Intentions and the Theory of Instrumental Rationality 6: Persisting Intentions 7: Instrumental Virtues 8: Practical Judgment and its Corresponding Vices 9: Actions, Preferences, and Risk

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Book SynopsisRanging across both standard philosophical territory and the landscape of cutting-edge cognitive science, Mindware: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Science, Second Edition, is a vivid and engaging introduction to key issues, research, and opportunities in the field.Starting with the vision of mindware as software and debates between realists, instrumentalists, and eliminativists, Andy Clark takes students on a no-holds-barred journey through connectionism, dynamical systems, and real-world robotics before moving on to the frontiers of cognitive technologies, enactivism, predictive coding, and the extended mind. Throughout, he highlights challenging issues in an effort to engage students in active debate. Each chapter opens with a brief sketch of a major research tradition or perspective, followed by concise critical discussions dealing with key topics and problems.NEW TO THIS EDITION* Three new chapters (9-11) on cognitive extensions, enactivism, and the predictive brain, and a revised appendix on consciousness* Extensive revisions, additions, and updates throughout in light of new developments in the field* New text boxes and revised and expanded suggestions for further reading, including many electronic resources (summarized on the book''s Companion Website at www.oup/us/coogan)Trade Review"The first edition of Mindware was so clear and engagingly written that it immediately became the go-to textbook for the philosophy of cognitive science. It was also so far out on the cutting edge that it has remained relevant for more than a decade. This updated and significantly expanded second edition is a major upgrade. With it, Andy Clark has improved on what already was the best introduction to the discipline and, no doubt, mapped out the debates of the next decade."--Anthony Chemero, University of Cincinnati "As an introduction to the field, Mindware has no equal. It's one thing to transport traditional philosophical discussions into the realm of empirical research; it's another thing to do so in a way that students find accessible and engaging. This is a lively and assured guide, and Clark is an excellent tour guide."--Scott M. James, University of North Carolina WilmingtonTable of ContentsIntroduction: (Not) Like a Rock ; 1. Meat Machines: Mindware as Software ; 2. Symbol Systems ; 3. Patterns, Contents, and Causes ; 4. Connectionism ; 5. Perception, Action, and the Brain ; 6. Robots and Artificial Life ; 7. Dynamics ; 8. Cognitive Technology: Beyond the Naked Brain ; 9. Extended Minds? ; 10. Enacting Perceptual Experience ; 11. Prediction Machines ; Appendix I. Some Backdrop: Dualism, Behaviorism, and Beyond ; Appendix II . Consciousness and the Meta-Hard Problem

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Book SynopsisThe Stoic philosophers of ancient Greece and Rome were interested in the emotions. This book shows that they did not simply advocate a suppression of feeling, as stoicism implies in English, but examined these powerful psychological responses, seeking to understand what attitude toward them expresses the deepest respect for human potential.Trade Review"A lucidly written... compellingly argued, and carefully researched investigation which should remain an indispensable resource for study of the Stoics on emotions for years to come." - Bryn Mawr Classical Review"

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