An Introduction to the Philosophy of Mind : Souls, Science and Human Beings

The book is an introduction to the philosophy of mind. While a number of such introductions are available, this book differs from others in that, while rejecting the dualist approach associated in particular with Descartes, it also casts serious doubt on the forms of materialism that now dominate English language philosophy. Drawing in particular on the work of Wittgenstein, a central place is given to the importance of the notion of a human being in our thought about ourselves and others. "A first-class introduction, clearly written and yet perceptively argued."--Professor D.Z. Phillips, University of Wales, Lampeter 'There is no air of condescension at all in Cockburn's book. He achieves the remarkable feat of writing a book about the philosophy of mind that is perfectly accessible to newcomers to the subject while also presenting a distinctive and coherent vision of how the philosophy of mind should be pursued. This is no mere textbook. It encourages readers to think through the issues for themselves by engaging their interest rather than by direct exhortation.' - E.J. Lowe, Professor of Philosophy, University of Durham

This book differs from others by rejecting the dualist approach associated in particular with Descartes. It also casts serious doubt on the forms of materialism that now dominate English language philosophy. Drawing in particular on the work of Wittgenstein, a central place is given to the importance of the notion of a human being in our thought about ourselves and others.

D.Z. Phillips

A first-class introduction, clearly written and yet perceptively argued.

This text is an introduction to the philosophy of mind that rejects the dualist approach associated with people such as Descartes, and it also casts doubts on the forms of materialism that now dominate English language philosophy. The book draws, in particular, on the work of Wittgenstein to look at the importance of the notion of a human being in our thought about ourselves and others An introduction to the philosophy of mind, this text rejects the dualist approach associated in particular with Descartes, and casts doubts on the forms of materialism that now dominate English language philosophy The French philosopher Rene Descartes (1596-1650) has had a profound and lasting impact on philosophical views of the self and its knowledge of the world.