The inner life of a rational agent : in defence of philosophical behaviourism

Rowland Stout

A radical approach to the philosophy of mind, in which states of mind are identified with dispositions to behave in certain ways. The approach taken by Rowland Stout is a thoroughly up-to-date version of behaviourism, although not a form of behaviourism that denies the existence of consciousness, free will, rationality, etc., nor aims to reduce these to other sorts of things. Properly understood, the idea of being disposed to behave in a certain way is seen to be exactly as rich and interesting as the idea of being in a certain state of mind. The fact that our ways of behaving are sensitive to practical rationality is taken to be an essential aspect of our nature as conscious agents. And in describing such a version of practical rationality Stout claims we are describing the mental state of someone whose behaviour is sensitive to it. His account of behaviourism rests on two central notions - that of a causal disposition to behave and that of sensitivity to practical rationality. He explains and develops these notions in some detail, and then uses them to construct powerful and original accounts of belief, intention, knowledge, perception and consciousness. Key Features * A systematic and completely original theoretical approach to the philosophy of mind * A re-evaluation of the history of the philosophy of mind based on a rejection of the generally accepted arguments in the 1960s and 1970s used by functionalists against behaviourists * A serious engagement with the intuitively compelling issues concerning behaviourism.

「Nielsen BookData」より

この本の情報

書名 The inner life of a rational agent : in defence of philosophical behaviourism
著作者等 Stout Rowland
出版元 Edinburgh University Press
刊行年月 c2006
ページ数 vii, 221 p.
大きさ 25 cm
ISBN 0748623434
NCID BA78630634
※クリックでCiNii Booksを表示
言語 英語
出版国 イギリス
この本を: 
このエントリーをはてなブックマークに追加

このページを印刷

外部サイトで検索

この本と繋がる本を検索

ウィキペディアから連想