The Soul Hypothesis
Investigations into the Existence of the Soul
Published on 16. December 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-1-4411-5224-4 (ISBN)
Description
Experts from different fields argue that there are good reasons to believe in the existence of the soul as distinct from the physical body. What do we mean when we speak about the soul? What are the arguments for the existence of the soul as distinct from the physical body? Do animals have souls? What is the difference between the mind and the soul? "The Soul Hypothesis" brings together experts from philosophy, linguistics and science to discuss the validity of these questions in the modern world. They contend that there is an aspect of the nature of human beings that is not reducible to the matter that makes up our bodies. This perspective is part of a family of views traditionally classified in philosophy as substance dualism, and has something serious in common with the ubiquitous human belief in the soul. "The Soul Hypothesis" presents views from a range of sciences and the resulting big picture shows, more clearly than one author could with one area of expertise, that there is room for a soul hypothesis.
Reviews / Votes
"Baker and Goetz have assembled an impressive interdisciplinary team of scholars to address questions about the existence and nature of the soul. The book is unique is combining philosophical and scientific arguments for dualism, and the result is a rigorous, exciting, persuasive presentation of the issues. The Soul Hypothesis is an excellent text that is sure to provoke a vigorous dialog about its content. I highly recommend it." - J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Biola University, USA"More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 218 mm
Width: 141 mm
Thickness: 22 mm
Weight
429 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4411-5224-4 (9781441152244)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
12/2010
1st Edition
Bloomsbury Continuum
€29.49
Available for download
Persons
Stewart Goetz (M. Litt., Oxford; Ph.D., Notre Dame) is Chair and Professor of Philosophy at Ursinus College, Collegeville, PA, USA. Previously he was a NEH Summer Fellow at Stanford University. He has journal articles published in American Philosophical Quarterly, Faith and Philosophy, International Journal for the Philosophy of Religion, Midwest Studies in Philosophy, Mind, Pacific Philosophical Quarterly, Philosophia Christi, Philosophical Studies, Philosophy and Phenomenological Research and Religious Studies. He is co-author with Charles Taliaferro of Naturalism and A Brief History of the Soul. At present, he serves on the board of directors for Blackwell's Philosophy Compass. Mark C. Baker is a Professor of Linguistics and Cognitive Science at Rutgers University, NJ, USA. He is the author of many articles and five books, including The Atoms of Language and most recently The Syntax of Agreement and Concord.
Content
Introduction; 1. "The Soul of the Matter" - Charles Taliaferro; 2. "Minds, Brains and Brains in Vats" - Daniel N. Robinson; 3. "Brains and Souls; Grammar and Speaking" - Mark Baker; 4. "Making Things Happen: Souls in Action" - Stewart Goetz; 5. "Energy of the Soul" - Robin Collins; 6. "The Measure of All Things: Quantum Mechanics and the Soul" - Dean Zimmerman; 7. "From Seeing to Seer" - Hans Halvorson; 8. "Souls Beastly and Human" - William Hasker; 9. "A Scientific Case for the Soul" - Robin Collins Afterword; Bibliography.