Minds, Brains and Science

Wittgenstein once remarked that a philosopher who doesn’t engage in public debate is like a boxer who never enters the ring. By this standard, John Searle is a true prizefighter. In recent years he has taken on Noam Chomsky, the champion of modern linguistics; Jacques Derrida, the heavyweight of post structuralism; and endeavored to deal a knock-out blow to the pretensions of artificial intelligentsia. -- Trevor Pateman * Times Higher Education Supplement *
John Searle’s Reith lectures have been widely received as a timely exposé of those woolly-minded computer-lovers who believe that computers can think, and indeed that the human mind is just a biological computer. In print Professor Searle’s lectures retain the same punchy and engaging style as they had on the air. -- David Papineau * Times Literary Supplement *
John Searle’s six Reith lectures—brief talks given over the BBC—are popular philosophy in the best sense: clear and lively without loss of rigor, and on problems of wide appeal. Searle proposes answers to three related questions: the relation between mind and brain; whether computers can think (they cannot); and why, compared with the natural sciences, the social sciences have taught us so little. On the second two issues he is brilliant… Searle makes a resounding contribution to current debates. * Virginia Quarterly Review *
Searle’s six brief chapters are models of straightforward, vigorous, non-technical argument… All of this heady and provocative stuff makes Searle’s book an exciting read. -- Stephen P. Stich * Philosophical Review *
This book is aggressive, zealous, and acute. Searle’s manner is that of a plain man in possession of plain truths that no one can reject if they are plainly enough stated. I cannot think of another book quite like it. -- Arthur Danto
Searle’s book is an admirably clear and vigorous exposition of his views on a connected set of philosophical issues of importance and timeliness. -- John Perry