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Synopsis
In Representational Ideas: From Plato to Patricia Churchland Watson argues that all intelligible theories of representation by ideas are based on likeness between representations and objects. He concludes that 17th century materialist criticisms of `having' mental representations in the mind apply to contemporary material representations in the brain, as proposed by neurophilosophers. The argument begins with Plato, with particular stress on Descartes, Malebranche, and Arnauld. He then proceeds with an examination of the picture theory developed by Wittgenstein, Carnap, and Goodman, and concludes with an examination of Patricia Churchland, Ruth Millikan, Robert Cummins, and Mark Rollins. The use of the historical development of representationalism to pose a central problem in contemporary cognitive science is unique.
For students, scholars and researchers in neuroscience, cognitive science, philosophy of mind, and modern philosophy.
Booknews
The author argues that all intelligible theories of representation by ideas are based on likeness between representations and objects. He touches on the ideas of Plato, Descartes, Wittgenstein, and Ruth Millikan, using the historical development of representationalism to pose a central problem in contemporary cognitive science, and concluding that the 17th century materialist criticisms of having mental representations in the mind apply to contemporary material representations in the brain as proposed by neurophilosophers. Of interest to scholars and researchers in neuroscience, cognitive science, and philosophy. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)