Philosophy and the Neurosciences: A Reader [Hardcover]

William Bechtel (Author), Robert S. Stufflebeam (Author), Jennifer Mundale (Author), Pete Mandik (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2001 | ISBN-10: 063121044X | ISBN-13: 978-0631210443 | Edition: 1

By introducing key themes in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science and the basic concepts of neuroscience, this text provides philosophers with the necessary background to engage the neurosciences and offers neuroscientists an introduction to the relevant tools of philosophical analysis.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

We've come a long way from "I think, therefore I am." If only things were that simple; as we see in Philosophy and the Neurosciences: A Reader, the interplay between our thoughts about ourselves and our body of scientific knowledge is becoming increasingly complex and arcane. Edited by Washington University's William Bechtel and several of his former graduate students, the book uses classic and contemporary selections to thoroughly cover several areas of mutual interest to neuroscientists and philosophers. Vision, language, and representation are the hottest topics, and heavy hitters like Broca and the Churchlands dissect them as precisely as their considerable knowledge and skill permit. Each broad section is bookended between a brief introduction and an intriguing question list; the readings are best suited for sparking classroom-style discussion and further research. Still, the individual reader will profit from the clarity and force of the book's arguments regarding the intersection between these two profoundly interesting fields. --Rob Lightner --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review

"William Bechtel and his colleagues have set about creating a genuine teaching aid." Journal of Consciousness Studies

"The first of its kind, Philosophy and the Neurosciences is sure to find an eager audience in neuroscience and philosophy. Under the encyclopedic and judicious guidance of Bill Bechtel, the editors have assembled a genuinely useful collection, provided insightful introductions to each section, and included a sample of groundbreaking papers from the history of neuroscience." Patricia Smith Churchland, University of California, San Diego

"The philosophy of neuroscience finally has a good teaching text. This nicely edited collection is a collage of classic and contemporary papers by neuroscientists and some solid, yet innovative philosophy." Peter Machamer, University of Pittsburgh

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition (October 16, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 063121044X
• ISBN-13: 978-0631210443
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,790,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)