Descartes Theory of Mind by Desmond Clarke 2003 Hardcover Book-image
Descartes Theory of Mind by Desmond Clarke 2003 Hardcover Book-image

Descartes Theory of Mind by Desmond Clarke 2003 Hardcover Book

$ 18.48

Item Length: 9.2 in Item Height: 0.8 in Number of Pages: 276 Pages Format: Hardcover ISBN-10: 0199261237 Dewey Edition: 22 Publication Name: Descartes's Theory of Mind Publication Year: 2003 Table Of Content: Introduction1. Cartesian Explanation2. Sensation: Ideas as Brain Patterns3. Imagination and Memory4. Passions of the Soul5. The Will as a Power of Self-Determination6. Human Language7. Describing Thought: The Subjective View8. Descartes's Use of the Concept of Substance9. Property DualismReferencesIndex Intended Audience: Scholarly & Professional Author: Desmond Clarke LC Classification Number: BD418.3 Subject: History & Surveys / General, Mind & Body, Individual Philosophers Synopsis: Descartes is commonly read as the paradigm defender of substance dualism, a theory caricatured by Ryle as the 'dogma of the ghost in the machine'. On this reading, mind and body are defined in such a way that they have no common properties that might help explain how they interact, and it is therefore impossible to provide any account of precisely those features of human experience that this 'theory' was meant to explain. Thus Descartes proposed an obvious dead-endand almost any beginner in philosophy can diagnose where he went wrong.Apart from its intrinsic implausibility, Desmond Clarke offers good reasons for thinking that this cannothave been Descartes's view. Descartes was an unrelenting critic of what Scholastics called 'substantial forms'. One cannot explain how we succed in thinking by saying, simply, that we have a thinking faculty. Cartesian objections to forms apply equally to substances. Descartes also argued that we know nothing about substances apart from their properties, so that substances are not available as independent explanatory entities. Finally, Descartes's own efforts to explain sensations, memory,imagination or the passions all involve rather speculative accounts of how the brain and the central nervous system work.Clarke's compelling and important new reading shows that afailure to engage with Descartes's scientific work leads to a wholesale misunderstanding of his theory of mind. It will be of great interest to scholars and students of Descartes, and throughout the philosophies of mind and science., Descartes is commonly read as the paradigm defender of substance dualism, a theory caricatured by Ryle as the 'dogma of the ghost in the machine'. On this reading, mind and body are defined in such a way that they have no common properties that might help explain how they interact, and it is therefore impossible to provide any account of precisely those features of human experience that this 'theory' was meant to explain. Thus Descartes proposed an obvious dead-end and almost any beginner in philosophy can diagnose where he went wrong.Apart from its intrinsic implausibility, Desmond Clarke offers good reasons for thinking that this cannot have been Descartes's view. Descartes was an unrelenting critic of what Scholastics called 'substantial forms'. One cannot explain how we succed in thinking by saying, simply, that we have a thinking faculty. Cartesian objections to forms apply equally to substances. Descartes also argued that we know nothing about substances apart from their properties, so that substances are not available as independent explanatory entities. Finally, Descartes's own efforts to explain sensations, memory, imagination or the passions all involve rather speculative accounts of how the brain and the central nervous system work.Clarke's compelling and important new reading shows that a failure to engage with Descartes's scientific work leads to a wholesale misunderstanding of his theory of mind. It will be of great interest to scholars and students of Descartes, and throughout the philosophies of mind and science., Descartes is possibly the most famous of all writers on the mind, but his theory of mind has been almost universally misunderstood, because his philosophy has not been seen in the context of his scientific work. Desmond Clarke offers a radical and convincing rereading, undoing the received perception of Descartes as the chief defender of mind/body dualism. For Clarke, the key is to interpret his philosophical efforts as an attempt to reconcile his scientificpursuits with the theologically orthodox views of his time., Descartes is possibly the most famous of all writers on the mind, but his theory of mind has been almost universally misunderstood, because his philosophy has not been seen in the context of his scientific work. Desmond Clarke offers a radical and convincing rereading, undoing the received perception of Descartes as the chief defender of mind/body dualism. For Clarke, the key is to interpret his philosophical efforts as an attempt to reconcile his scientific pursuits with the theologically orthodox views of his time. Dewey Decimal: 128/.2/092 Illustrated: Yes Item Width: 6.1 in brand: Oxford University Press, Incorporated Subject Area: Philosophy Reviews: 'Descartes's scientific ambitions were, to be sure, a crucial part of his philosophical project, and Clarkes careful and persuasive exploration of them provides an important addition to the literature' Publisher: Oxford University Press, Incorporated ISBN-13: 9780199261239 LCCN: 2003-273344 Type: Textbook Item Weight: 18.3 Oz gtin13: 9780199261239 Language: English

Description

  1. This book is a brilliant deep dive into Descartes's philosophy of the mind—clear, insightful, and well-structured. Clarke breaks down complex ideas into digestible parts without oversimplifying. The hardcover edition feels sturdy and well-made, perfect for serious readers or students. A must-have for anyone interested in philosophy or cognitive science. Highly recommend!

    Seamus5f334b

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