Structure and the Metaphysics of Mind

Structure and the Metaphysics of Mind PDF Author: William Jaworski
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191066494
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 362

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Book Description
Structure and the Metaphysics of Mind is the first book to show how hylomorphism can be used to solve mind-body problems—persistent problems understanding how thought, feeling, perception, and other mental phenomena fit into the physical world described by our best science. Hylomorphism claims that structure is a basic ontological and explanatory principle. Some individuals, paradigmatically living things, consist of materials that are structured or organized in various ways. Those structures are responsible for individuals being the kinds of things they are, and having the kinds of powers or capacities they have. From a hylomorphic perspective, mind-body problems are byproducts of a worldview that rejects structure. Hylomorphic structure carves out distinctive individuals from the otherwise undifferentiated sea of matter and energy described by our best physics, and it confers on those individuals distinctive powers, including the powers to think, feel, and perceive. A worldview that rejects hylomorphic structure lacks a basic principle which distinguishes the parts of the physical universe that can think, feel, and perceive from those that can't, and without such a principle, the existence of those powers in the physical world can start to look inexplicable and mysterious. But if mental phenomena are structural phenomena, as hylomorphism claims, then they are uncontroversially part of the physical world, for on the hylomorphic view, structure is uncontroversially part of the physical world. Hylomorphism thus provides an elegant way of solving mind-body problems.

Structure and the Metaphysics of Mind

Structure and the Metaphysics of Mind PDF Author: William Jaworski
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191066494
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 362

Get Book

Book Description
Structure and the Metaphysics of Mind is the first book to show how hylomorphism can be used to solve mind-body problems—persistent problems understanding how thought, feeling, perception, and other mental phenomena fit into the physical world described by our best science. Hylomorphism claims that structure is a basic ontological and explanatory principle. Some individuals, paradigmatically living things, consist of materials that are structured or organized in various ways. Those structures are responsible for individuals being the kinds of things they are, and having the kinds of powers or capacities they have. From a hylomorphic perspective, mind-body problems are byproducts of a worldview that rejects structure. Hylomorphic structure carves out distinctive individuals from the otherwise undifferentiated sea of matter and energy described by our best physics, and it confers on those individuals distinctive powers, including the powers to think, feel, and perceive. A worldview that rejects hylomorphic structure lacks a basic principle which distinguishes the parts of the physical universe that can think, feel, and perceive from those that can't, and without such a principle, the existence of those powers in the physical world can start to look inexplicable and mysterious. But if mental phenomena are structural phenomena, as hylomorphism claims, then they are uncontroversially part of the physical world, for on the hylomorphic view, structure is uncontroversially part of the physical world. Hylomorphism thus provides an elegant way of solving mind-body problems.

Essays in the Metaphysics of Mind

Essays in the Metaphysics of Mind PDF Author: Jaegwon Kim
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199585873
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 326

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Book Description
The first begins with a consideration of Davidson's argument for the claim that there are no strict laws about the mental; the second builds on J.J.C. Smart's observations on biology and its relation to physics; and the third is based on my earlier work on multiple realization.

Philosophy of Mind

Philosophy of Mind PDF Author: William Jaworski
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1444397583
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 438

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Book Description
PHILOSOPHY of MIND “Philosophy of mind is an incredibly active field thanks in part to the recent explosion of work in the sciences of the mind. Jaworski’s book is a well-written, comprehensive, and sophisticated primer on all the live positions on the mind–body problem, including various kinds of physicalism, emergentism, and his own favorite, hylomorphism. This is a serious and responsible book for philosophy students, philosophers, and mind scientists who want to understand where they stand philosophically.” Owen Flanagan, Duke University Philosophy of Mind introduces readers to one of the liveliest fields in contemporary philosophy by discussing mind–body problems and the range of solutions to them: varieties of substance dualism, physicalism, dual-attribute theory, neutral monism, idealism, and hylomorphism. It treats each position fairly, in greater depth and detail than competing texts, and is written throughout in a clear, accessible style that is easy to read, free of technical jargon, and presupposes no prior knowledge of philosophy of mind. The result is a balanced overview of the entire field that enables students and instructors to grasp the essential arguments and jump immediately into current debates. William Jaworski discusses the impact of neuroscience, biology, psychology, and cognitive science on mind–body debates. Bibliographic essays at the end of each chapter bring readers up to speed on the latest literature and allow the text to be used in conjunction with primary sources. Numerous diagrams and illustrations help newcomers grasp the more complex ideas, and chapters on free will and the philosophy of persons make the book a flexible teaching tool for general philosophy courses in addition to courses in philosophy of mind.

The Realm of Mind

The Realm of Mind PDF Author: Frederick James Eugene Woodbridge
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 162

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Book Description
Looks at the mind as a logical structure of existence and that our thinking as individuals is a bodily activity congruent with that structure.

Brain, Mind, and the Structure of Reality

Brain, Mind, and the Structure of Reality PDF Author: Paul L. Nunez
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 019534071X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 317

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Book Description
Does the brain create the mind, or is some external entity involved? This book synthesizes ideas borrowed from philosophy, religion, and science. Topics range widely from brain imagining of thought processes to quantum mechanics and the essential role of information in brains and physical systems.

The Structure of the Mind

The Structure of the Mind PDF Author: Francesco Belfiore
Publisher: University Press of America
ISBN: 9780761827870
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 408

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Book Description
This book represents a unique attempt to restore a 'new-classical' aspiration towards a philosophical system able to provide some certainties. Using the distinctive feature of presenting an original and complete philosophical system, author Francesco Belfiore diverges from the philosophical literature of the last decades, which has been ever more focused upon specific fields. Belfiore shows how failure to recognize this fundamental requirement of any philosophical inquiry has led to difficulties and misunderstandings in interpretation. Through his novel approach, Belfiore offers novel solutions in the fields of ontology, knowledge, language, esthetics, politics and ethics.

Having Thought

Having Thought PDF Author: John Haugeland
Publisher: Harvard University Press
ISBN: 0674004159
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 402

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Book Description
The unifying theme of these thirteen essays is understanding. Haugeland addresses mind and intelligence; intelligibility; analog and digital systems and supervenience; presuppositions about the foundational notions of intentionality and representation; and the essential character of understanding in relation to what is understood.

A Taxonomy and Metaphysics of Mind-Uploading

A Taxonomy and Metaphysics of Mind-Uploading PDF Author: Keith Wiley
Publisher: Humanity+ Press and Alautun Press
ISBN:
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 189

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Book Description
MIND-UPLOADING: the process of transferring one’s mind from the brain to a new substrate, generally a computer. It is the stuff of science fiction, immediately recognizable in contemporary literature and cinema. However, it has also become increasingly respectable—or at least approachable—within technological, neurological, and philosophical circles. This book begins with a rich taxonomy of hypothetical procedures by which mind-uploading might be achieved, even if only in the realm of thought experiment. This is likely the most thorough collection of such procedures yet compiled and should form the basis of any reader’s personal philosophy of mind and mind-uploading. It then offers one such philosophy of mind, along with an analysis and interpretation of the scenarios in the taxonomy through the lens of this philosophy. This book will be an important component of any curious reader’s developing philosophy of mind and mind-uploading. Please note that this book is copublished by Humanity+ Press and Alautun Press, even though Google's "publisher" entry may only state one publisher. Praise for A Taxonomy and Metaphysics of Mind-Uploading “Starting with a very useful description of the ways that minds may be uploaded in the future, this book steps through some of the key philosophical issues that mind uploading poses. What is consciousness? Is there personal identity? What would the relationship of an organic person be to his mind clone? If we can copy minds would that mean there is no free will? This book makes a useful contribution to a debate that our children will undoubtedly have a stake in.” —JAMES J. HUGHES PH.D. • Executive Director, Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies • Author, Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must Respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future “Along with AGI, life extension and cyborgs, mind uploading is going to be one of the major transformative technologies in the next century. Keith Wiley has done us all a favor by providing the most careful conceptual analysis of mind uploading that I've seen. The book is bound to become the standard reference regarding the various types of possible mind uploading, and the philosophical and scientific issues involved with each. As mind uploading moves closer to reality, his analysis and others inspired by it will provide valuable practical guidance to scientists and engineers working on the technology, as well as ordinary people making decisions about their own potential uploading to alternate physical substrates.” —BEN GOERTZEL PH.D. • CEO of Novamente • Vice Chair at Humanity+ Magazine • Chief Scientist at Aidyia Holdings • Advisor to the Singularity Institute “Keith Wiley artfully blends key concepts, philosophy, and nascent technologies together in a fascinating work on mind uploading. His coverage of the field is broad and deep, and jolts readers to see that a spark at the end of the tunnel can now be seen in moving this technology from science fiction to science reality.” —ERIC KLIEN • President of the Lifeboat Foundation “Keith Wiley has been involved with the pursuit of technology to accomplish mind uploading or whole brain emulation almost since the very moment those ideas crystalized and the terminology was born. In this book, he has diligently applied that long experience and his attention to detail. Carefully separating and describing the different paths and possible issues on the way to mind uploading, Wiley anchors the science and its philosophy. If you have ever been confused by the cornucopia of concepts bandied about, or if you want to dig deeply into the possibilities and consequences of mind uploading, then this book is for you.” —RANDAL A. KOENE PH.D. • Founder & CEO of Carboncopies.org • Founder of Minduploading.org • Science Director for the 2045 Initiative • Co-founder of the Neural Engineering Corporation • past Director of the Department of Neuroengineering at Tecnalia

The Structure of Metaphysics

The Structure of Metaphysics PDF Author: Morris Lazerowitz
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317829662
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
First published in 2000. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Mind, Brain, Behavior

Mind, Brain, Behavior PDF Author: Martin Carrier
Publisher: Walter de Gruyter
ISBN: 9783110128765
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 342

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Book Description