Mental Causation
Exploring the relationship between mind and physical reality
John Heil editor Alfred Mele editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:21st Jan '93
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
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- Paperback£54.00(9780198235644)
This collection of essays in Mental Causation addresses the intricate relationship between mind and behavior from multiple philosophical viewpoints.
The book Mental Causation is a thought-provoking collection of essays by esteemed philosophers who delve into the complex issue of mental causation from a variety of perspectives. The contributors explore the longstanding belief that the mind influences our actions, a notion supported by both common sense and philosophical tradition. However, articulating how mental processes can affect behavior presents significant challenges. Some argue that this endeavor is fraught with a dilemma: either we accept that mental explanations of behavior are merely practical or we relinquish our understanding of the physical realm as independently causal.
In Mental Causation, each essay offers a unique viewpoint, striving for a balanced approach that honors the traditional view of the mind while respecting the metaphysical understanding of the physical world. The volume includes contributions from a diverse array of philosophers, each with a notable reputation for their theories concerning the nature of the mind. Authors such as Robert Audi, Lynne Rudder Baker, and Donald Davidson bring their insights to the table, fostering a rich dialogue about the interplay between mental states and physical actions.
This compilation not only highlights the complexity of mental causation but also reflects the ongoing philosophical discourse surrounding it. By presenting various interpretations and arguments, Mental Causation serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in the relationship between mind and matter, making it a significant addition to contemporary philosophical literature.
since its contributors are of the leading figures who deal with these issues, anyone interested in mental causation may benefit a lot from reading it. * Amir Horowitz, Philosophia *
'The essays are largely nontechnical and make an important contribution to current work in the philosophy of mind. They can benefit the work of cognitive psychologists, philosophers, and other theorists working on topics in philosophical psychology.' P.K. Moser, Loyola University of Chicago, Choice, Sep '93
'The volume presents a quite encompassing overview on the state of the debate and is to be recommended to everyone interested in the topic.' Martin Rechenauer, Erkenntnis 41: 1994
Excellent collection of articles. * Proto Soziologie *
A welcome collection of sixteen previously unpublished papers that explore the many dimensions of the questions whether, and if so how, mind matters ... Taken together, the papers represent an invigorating diversity of vantage point and assumption. They effectively display the intricacy of the interconnections amongst topics that are mishandled if taken as insulated from one another. * Philosophical Psychology *
A welcome collection of sixteen previously unpublished papers that explore the many dimensions of the questions whether, and if so how, mind matters ... Taken together, the papers represent an invigorating diversity of vantage point and assumption. They effectively display the intricacy of the interconnections amongst topics that are mishandled if taken as insulated from one another. * Philosophical Psychology *
One of the merits of a book such as Mental Causation for a psychologist ... is that it can sharpen one's appreciation of the ambiguities and hidden asumptions in the psychological investigation of mind and behavior ... this volume contains strong defenses of the legitimacy of mentalistic explanations of behavior in scientific psychology. * Peter A. White, University of Wales College of Cardiff *
a welcome collection of sixteen previously unpublished papers that explore the many dimensions of the questions whether, and if so how, mind matters ... the papers represent an invigorating diversity of vantage point and assumption. They effectively display the intricacy of the interconnections amongst topics that are mishandled if taken as insulated from one another. * John Bricke, University of Kansas *
ISBN: 9780198239291
Dimensions: 223mm x 163mm x 26mm
Weight: 585g
352 pages