Philosophy of Mind

Reviews / Votes

"This is an excellent introduction to the philosophy of mind. The book is admirably wide ranging, exemplifying Heil's vast knowledge of the field. It is also impressively accessible, without ever sacrificing faithfulness to the difficult issues it discusses. Furthermore, thanks to Heil's characteristic stylistic flair and unpretentiousness, it's consistently fun to read. The new edition contains many welcome additions. It features an important new chapter on emergence and panpsychism, in which Heil manages to capture the core of these popular positions without becoming bogged down in the notorious technicalities that affect these areas. The volume also contains the most accessible introduction to Davidson's views on radical interpretation that I have ever read, carefully placing all the pieces in place one by one in a reader-friendly manner. I was also especially pleased to see the reintroduction of a discussion of Non-Cartesian Substance Dualism. This volume will serve as a great introduction for advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals in the field, especially for those who approach philosophy of mind through the lens of metaphysics." - Henry Taylor, University of Birmingham, UK

"Heil's book is a super reader-friendly introduction to a notoriously difficult subject that still manages to be challenging and wide-ranging enough to interest the advanced reader. I particularly like that it is not merely an attempt to impartially survey the full range of issues and arguments in contemporary philosophy of mind. Heil also engages with them with a sense of urgency and excitement that is contagious." - R.D. Ingthorsson, Lund University, Sweden

"This is the kind of textbook that gives philosophy a good name. Lucid, comprehensive, and impeccably fair, it conveys the excitement of philosophical questions about the mind while at the same time providing a very broad survey of the field. Students will appreciate the perspicacious explanations and lively examples, and teachers will welcome the directness and lack of obscurantism. Moreover, it can be used either as a stand-alone text or in conjunction with journal articles and other primary sources, many of which are mentioned in the "Suggested Reading" sections that follow each chapter." - Muhammad Ali Khalidi, York University, Canada