Complexity and the Function of Mind in Nature
Part of Cambridge Studies in Philosophy and Biology
- Author: Peter Godfrey-Smith, Stanford University, California
- Date Published: February 1999
- availability: Available
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521646246
Paperback
Other available formats:
Hardback
Looking for an inspection copy?
Please email [email protected] to enquire about an inspection copy of this book
-
This book explains the relationship between intelligence and environmental complexity, and in so doing links philosophy of mind to more general issues about the relations between organisms and environments, and to the general pattern of 'externalist' explanations. The author provides a biological approach to the investigation of mind and cognition in nature. In particular he explores the idea that the function of cognition is to enable agents to deal with environmental complexity. The history of the idea in the work of Dewey and Spencer is considered, as is the impact of recent evolutionary theory on our understanding of the place of mind in nature.
Read more- Brings together philosophy of mind and evolutionary biology in an exciting new way
- Looks at work of Dewey on this topic, and discusses the relationship of pragmatism and naturalistic philosophy
Customer reviews
Not yet reviewed
Be the first to review
Review was not posted due to profanity
×Product details
- Date Published: February 1999
- format: Paperback
- isbn: 9780521646246
- length: 328 pages
- dimensions: 229 x 150 x 20 mm
- weight: 0.503kg
- availability: Available
Table of Contents
Part I. Foundations:
1. Naturalism and teleology
2. Externalism and internalism
3. Spencer’s Version
4. Dewey’s version
5. On construction
6. The question of correspondence
Part II. Models:
7. Adaptive plasticity
8. The signal detection model
9. Complex individuals, complex populations.
Sorry, this resource is locked
Please register or sign in to request access. If you are having problems accessing these resources please email [email protected]
Register Sign in» Proceed
You are now leaving the Cambridge University Press website. Your eBook purchase and download will be completed by our partner www.ebooks.com. Please see the permission section of the www.ebooks.com catalogue page for details of the print & copy limits on our eBooks.
Continue ×Are you sure you want to delete your account?
This cannot be undone.
Thank you for your feedback which will help us improve our service.
If you requested a response, we will make sure to get back to you shortly.
×