ABSTRACT

Contemporary philosophy has seen a proliferation of complex theories and intricate arguments brought to bear on the mind-body problem, perhaps the most intractable of perennial philosophical problems. In this concise and accessible text, Barbara Hannan provides an elegant introduction to this contemporary debate. Her emphasis is upon the clear and even-handed presentation and evaluation of the major theories of the mind, but she does not shrink from contributing to the advancement of the argument, including the presentation of an original account, the theory of "content internalism." Along the way to the formulation of this account, Hannan puts into context and discusses the views of all the major contemporary philosophers writing on the mind, including Lewis, Putnam, Searle, Davidson, Dennett, and Fodor. Combining a deep respect for the depth of the issues with clarity of thought and lucidity of expression, Subjectivity and Reduction is the ideal introduction to the central problem of today's philosophy of mind.

chapter 2|13 pages

Reductive Materialist Mind-Body Theories

chapter 3|16 pages

Functionalist Mind-Body Theories

chapter 4|11 pages

Arguments for Eliminative Materialism

chapter 5|11 pages

Arguments Against Eliminative Materialism

chapter 6|11 pages

Two Versions of Non-Reductive Materialism

chapter 7|17 pages

In Defense of Content Internalism

chapter 8|10 pages

The Problem of Mental Causation

chapter 9|7 pages

Summary, Loose Ends, Conclusions