The Representational Theory of Mind: An Introduction

by Kim Sterelny

Overview

This book is not a conventional introduction to the philosophy of mind, nor is it a contribution to the physicalist/ dualist debate. Instead The Representational Theory of Mind demonstrates that we can construct physicalist theories of important aspects of our mental life. Its aim is to explain and defend a physicalist theory of intelligence in two parts: the first six chapters consist of an exposition, elaboration and defence of human sentience (the functionalist theory of mind), and the second part considers rivals and objections to this theory.

Kim Sterelny aims to introduce people to this area of philosophy be exemplifying it, to show that philosophical and empirical investigations can be synthesized to the benefit of both. It is both introduction and argument, explanation and manifesto and succeeds in bridging the widening gap between student primer and contemporary research. Technical vocabulary is explained (and defined in a glossary) while the leading edge of current debates is confronted and assessed. This book has been written for people working in philosophy, psychology and the cognitive sciences.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780631164982
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/08/1991
Pages:	268
Product dimensions:	6.04(w) x 8.99(h) x 0.59(d)

About the Author

Kim Sterelny is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. He is co-author with Michael Devitt of Language and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language.

Table of Contents

A functionalist theory of the mind

Representation and computation

Representation, computation, and implementation

Marr on vision; Fodor on the mind's organization: the theory in action

Individualism

Explaining content

Eliminativism

Connectionism

Reduction and autonomy

Explaining intelligence