Pluralism and the Mind

Description

Paul Feyerabend noted that ' ... the world which we want to explore is a largely unknown entity. We must, therefore, keep our options open and ... not restrict ourselves in advance.' (1975, p. 20). Given that consciousness is poorly understood and vaguely defined, such advice seems sound, but is frequently ignored in favour of an insistence that a scientific theory of consciousness must be reducible to current monist physics and biology. This book argues that such an insistence is historically un ... Read more... Abstract: Paul Feyerabend noted that ' ... the world which we want to explore is a largely unknown entity. We must, therefore, keep our options open and ... not restrict ourselves in advance.' (1975, p. 20). Given that consciousness is poorly understood and vaguely defined, such advice seems sound, but is frequently ignored in favour of an insistence that a scientific theory of consciousness must be reducible to current monist physics and biology. This book argues that such an insistence is historically un Content: Cover Contents Front Matter Title Page Publisher Information Dedication Acknowledgments Body Matter Introduction: The Persistent Question Part One: Historical Context 1. From Animism to Mechanism 2. Vital Fluids, Darwin and Mechanical Men 3. Mind and Consciousness in the Late Nineteenth Century 4. Behaviourism, Computers and Exorcists Part Two: Philosophical Considerations 5. Ontology 6. Epistemology 7. The Problem of Biological Causation Part Three: Physicalism and its Limits 8. The Computational Model of Mind 9. Some Theories of Consciousness. 10. Neuroimaging and its LimitsPart Four: Controversies and Speculations 11. Pluralism and the Mind 12. Consciousness, Teleology and Evolution 13. Free Will 14. The Hidden Portion and Our Selves 15. Limits of the Possible Conclusion: Pluralism, Consciousness and Society Back Matter Bibliography Also Available.