Introduction to Philosophy: Philosophy of Mind

Reviewed by Peter Murphy, Professor, University of Indianapolis on 4/2/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This multi-author overview of the philosophy of mind covers all of the central topics that show up in a standard undergraduate course in the philosophy of mind. These include substantive discussions of substance and property dualism, functionalism, various forms of materialism, behaviorism, and eliminative materialism. Coverage of other key topics, like the nature of qualia, mental content, and freedom of the will are also included.

Content Accuracy rating: 4

The authors do a good job capturing the nature of the key debates in the philosophy of mind, the accompanying arguments in support of the most prominent positions on those debates, and some of the standard objections to those arguments. There are also useful references to the works of some of the key contemporary philosophers of mind.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

The topics in this book are well chosen. Each focuses on a key perennial topic in the philosophy of mind. And many include helpful references to work done before the 20th century.

Clarity rating: 4

Almost all of the chapters are clearly written and well organized. Readers won’t have any trouble learning from these chapters.

Consistency rating: 5

Each chapter is internally consistent and the work is also consistent across chapters.

Modularity rating: 5

This book neatly divides into appropriate chapters on eight key topics in contemporary philosophy of mind. Each chapter is usefully divided into an introduction, the main subsections, and a conclusion. Each chapter also includes references and a helpful list of further reading.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

The book helpfully begins with two chapters that look at positions at opposite ends of the spectrum on the issue of the metaphysics of mental states: Chapter 1 begins at one end with substance dualism; and Chapter 2 takes the reader to the other end with an overview of materialism and behaviorism. These are followed by chapters on nuanced intermediate positions: Chapter 3 is on functionalism and Chapter 4 is on property dualism. Chapters 5 and 6 take a closer look at disputes regarding qualia and consciousness. The book ends with two very helpful chapters, Chapters 7 on concepts and content, and Chapter 8 on the free will debate.

Interface rating: 5

Each chapter is usefully divided into an introduction, the main subsections, and a conclusion. Each chapter also includes references and a helpful list of further reading.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The chapters are well written and free of grammatical errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The focus of the book is philosophical reflections on the mind that have arisen out of the western European tradition. Importantly, scientific culture is central to many of the discussions in the book – specifically reflections on how our scientific knowledge of such things as the brain, human behavior, and causation should inform our understanding of the human mind are included.

Comments

This text will help readers gain a better understanding of the central debates in contemporary philosophy of mind. And teachers of philosophy of mind courses will find many of the chapters useful as assigned readings.

Reviewed by Charles Fox, Professor, Worcester State University on 5/28/20

Comprehensiveness rating: 3 see less

The book ignores current work in Cognitive Science. This work has a large impact on the discourse about Philosophy of Mind.
Book does not have an index or glossary.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

In the areas it covered it did a good job. I would caution that when it discussed Functionalism I was expecting William James' pragmatism based on the title but in reading the chapter they spoke of something completely different. I would have chosen a different chapter title.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

Again there is the issue of ignoring Cognitive Science. I also think they will soon have to include AI and this will be more difficult in that I think it would have to be both a separate chapter as well as being included in several chapters (e.g. Chapters 3&4)

Clarity rating: 4

This is clear for someone with at least some knowledge of the structure of Philosophical argument. For example, it presents arguments based on limiting assumptions (e.g., conservation of energy in Chap 4) while acknowledging that this limitation has been challenged in contemporary physics. Or setting the limit of 'common sense' even though this is a very weak argument. So the issue is that these parameters are presented as more effective than they are.

Consistency rating: 4

Overall there is consistency within the chapters but there is some variance between chapters. This variance is somewhat in terminology but more in terms of chapter organization, Neither of these are a real issue.

Modularity rating: 5

The chapters are organized so that sections can largely stand alone and each chapter can largely stand alone. There is some self-reference between chapters but they stand without this.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

Ther early part of the text follows a logical topic development. This breaks down in the last few chapters.

Interface rating: 5

This is a straight PDF (or at least what I read) so the topic of interface is irrelevant. Text & the few images are clear.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

No error I am aware of.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

I am an 'old white man' so may not be the most sensitive but I found no issues with this.

Comments

I would have liked some of the arguments to have more of a framework.