
Mind and Causality
Alberto Peruzzi(Editor)
John Benjamins Publishing Co
Published on 25. February 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
235 pages
978-90-272-5190-9 (ISBN)
Description
Which causal patterns are involved in mental processes?
On what mechanisms does the self-organisation of cognitive structure rest?
Can a naturalistic view account for the basic resources of intentionality, while avoiding the objections to reductive materialism?
By considering the developmental, phenomenological and biological aspects linking mind and causality, this volume offers a state-of-the art theoretical proposal emphasising the fine-tuning of cognition with the complexity of bodily dynamics. In contrast to the de-coupling of mind from the physical environment in classical information-processing models, growth of brain's architecture and stabilisation of perception--action cycles are considered decisive, with no need for an eliminative approach to representations pursued by neural network models. The tools provided by physics and biology for the description of massive causal interactions, on top of which 'qualitative' changes occur, are exploited to suggest a model of the mind as a many-layered, co-evolving system. (Series A)
On what mechanisms does the self-organisation of cognitive structure rest?
Can a naturalistic view account for the basic resources of intentionality, while avoiding the objections to reductive materialism?
By considering the developmental, phenomenological and biological aspects linking mind and causality, this volume offers a state-of-the art theoretical proposal emphasising the fine-tuning of cognition with the complexity of bodily dynamics. In contrast to the de-coupling of mind from the physical environment in classical information-processing models, growth of brain's architecture and stabilisation of perception--action cycles are considered decisive, with no need for an eliminative approach to representations pursued by neural network models. The tools provided by physics and biology for the description of massive causal interactions, on top of which 'qualitative' changes occur, are exploited to suggest a model of the mind as a many-layered, co-evolving system. (Series A)
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 220 mm
Width: 150 mm
Weight
395 gr
ISBN-13
978-90-272-5190-9 (9789027251909)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Content
1. Preface; 2. 1. Causality and development: Past, present and future (by Hopkins, Brian); 3. 2. Perception of causality: A dynamical analysis (by Luccio, Riccardo); 4. 3. Embodiment and the philosophy of mind (by Clark, Andy); 5. 4. Causes and motivations: Merleau-Ponty's phenomenology confronts psychological studies (by Lucarelli, Antonella); 6. 5. Mental causation and intentionality in a mind naturalising theory (by Nannini, Sandro); 7. 6. The envious frog (by Salucci, Marco); 8. 7. Knowing what it is like and knowing how (by Malatesti, Luca); 9. 8. Human cognition: An evolutionary perspective (by Tattersall, Ian); 10. 9. Space, time and cognition: From the standpoint of mathematics and natural science (by Bailly, Francis); 11. 10. Causality in the texture of mind (by Peruzzi, Alberto)