Philosophy of Mind: A Beginner's Guide [Paperback]

Designed specifically for students with no background knowledge in the subject, this accessible introduction covers all of the basic concepts and major theories in the philosophy of mind. Topics discussed include dualism, behaviorism, the identity theory, functionalism, the computational theory of mind, connectionism, physicalism, mental causation, and consciousness. The text is enhanced by chapter summaries, a glossary, suggestions for further reading, and self-assessment questions.

Acknowledgements
Introduction
PART 1. WHAT ARE MENTAL STATES?
1. Dualism
1.1 Substance dualism
1.2 Arguments in favor of substance dualism
1.3 Arguments against substance dualism
1.4 Property dualism
1.5 Assessing epiphenomenalism
1.6 Conclusion
2. Behaviorism
2.1 Philosophical behaviorism
2.2 Arguments in favor of philosophical behaviorism
2.3 Arguments against philosophical behaviorism
2.4 What is methodological behaviorism?
2.5 Arguments for methodological behaviorism
2.6 Arguments against methodological behaviorism
3. The identity theory
3.1 More about the identity theory
3.2 Arguments in favor of the identity theory
3.3 Evidence from deficit studies
3.4 Arguments against the identity theory
3.5 Reductive and nonreductive physicalism
3.6 Conclusion
4. Functionalism
4.1 Introducing functionalism
4.2 Functionalism and brain states
4.3 Functionalism and the six features of mental states
4.4 Two famous arguments against functionalism
4.5 Conclusion
5. Eliminativism and fictionalism
5.1 From theory to reality
5.2 Introducing eliminativism
5.3 Eliminativism about mental states
5.4 Anti-eliminativist arguments
5.5 Fictionalism
5.6 Conclusion
PART 2. MIND AS MACHINE
6. The computational theory of mind
6.1 Syntax and slă5