Freud's Philosophy of the Unconscious is the only comprehensive, systematic study of Sigmund Freud's philosophy of mind. Freud emerges as a sophisticated philosopher who addresses many of the central questions that concern contemporary philosophers and cognitive scientists while anticipating many of their views. While still a student in Vienna, Freud was initiated into philosophy by Franz Brentano. The book charts Freud's intellectual development as he deals with the mind-body problem, the nature of consciousness, folk psychology versus scientific psychology, the relationship between language and thought, realism and antirealism in psychology, and the nature of unconscious mental events. The book also critically examines writings on Freud by Wittgenstein, Davidson, and Searle, demonstrating their weakness as interpretations and criticisms of Freud's position. Readership: Philosophers, cognitive scientists, psychologists, psychoanalysts, psychotherapists and psychiatrists.
I was born in New York City, and grew up in South Florida, where I spent many happy hours observing, catching and studying the insects, fish and especially reptiles that abounded in the area. I moved to London in 1976, where I continued my education and became a psychoanalytic psychotherapist and director of the MA program in psychotherapy and counseling at Regents College.I eventually became skeptical of the field of psychotherapy in general, and turned to philosophy to gain conceptual clarity. I earned a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of London (Kings College) where I did work on the philosophy of mind and philosophy of psychology. These studies introduced me to the significance of evolutionary biology for understanding human nature, enabling me to come full circle by fusing my interest in the human mind with my earlier love of the natural world.
In 2000 I moved from the United Kingdom with my wife Subrena to take up a position at the University of New England, a private liberal arts college in southern Maine, where I am associate professor of philosophy. I teach a range of courses on philosophy of biology, ethics, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of psychology and the history of philosophy. I am the co-founder and director of the New England Institute for Cognitive Science and Evolutionary Studies. The New England Institute hosts an lively program of public lectures, including the annual William D. Hamilton Memorial Lecture.
More information about me and my work, visit http://lessthanhumanbook.com and http://www.realhumannature.com
