Mind as Metaphor
A Defence of Mental Fictionalism
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Oxford University Press
Published:27th Apr '23
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
We often think of the mind as an inner world. Once, this inner world might have been a spirit or soul - a "ghost in the machine", in Gilbert Ryle's memorable phrase. Nowadays, we are told it will be found in the brain. Adam Toon argues that this is a mistake. In fact, our concept of mind is fundamentally metaphorical: we project the 'outer world' of human culture onto the 'inner world' of the mind. This is an enormously powerful way of making sense of people and their behaviour. But we must not forget that this inner world is only a useful fiction. Mind as Metaphor develops this idea to offer a radical new approach to the mind, known as mental fictionalism. Toon shows that mental fictionalism can make sense of our ordinary concept of mind (or folk psychology), while avoiding the difficulties faced by alternative approaches, such as behaviourism or instrumentalism. In doing so, Mind as Metaphor sheds new light on a range of issues, from the mind's capacity to represent the world (or intentionality) to the way in which new tools and practices expand the limits of inquiry. Written in a concise, engaging, and accessible style, Mind as Metaphor is essential reading for anyone interested in the nature of the mind and its relationship to human culture
Toon defends his mental fictionalism with brilliant argumentation and a light but lucid style. He offers solutions to pressing problems of mental fictionalism, such as 'cognitive collapse', and proposes a new approach to intentionality that can be reconciled with the extended mind thesis. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the subject, whether they be friend or foe of mental fictionalism. * László Kocsis, The Philosophy Quarterly *
Toon's project is ambitious; it advocates for a departure from traditional views and encourages future researchers to adopt unconventional and bold approaches. * Melinda Gülsüm Esen, Philosophical Psychology *
A powerful and sophisticated defence... Toon's valuable work gives us reason to treat the metaphorical talk of an inner world of contentful mental causes in much the same way that adults treat talk of Santa Claus * Daniel D. Hutto, Analysis *
Toon's writing is clear and accessible, making complex philosophical ideas approachable for a broader audience… Mind as Metaphor offers a bold defence of mental fictionalism, challenging both the representational theory of mind and the traditional Cartesian view of an inner mental realm. By treating mental states as metaphors and fiction, Toon provides a fresh perspective on how we talk about the mind and its operations. * Ayush Srivastava, Problemos *
ISBN: 9780198879626
Dimensions: 241mm x 162mm x 15mm
Weight: 388g
158 pages