D. M. Armstrong is emeritus professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Sydney.
Review
"I have nothing but the most fulsome enthusiasm for the book, which will make a strong and important contribution
to the books currently available on the topic. It is comprehensive, balanced, detailed and thoroughly accessible
all in one package-quite a remarkable accomplishment."
--David M. Rosenthal, CUNY Graduate Center
"Armstrong writes in a clear and direct way that students are likely to appreciate, and his expertise in
these areas is unquestionable."
--David Chalmers, UC Santa Cruz
"An ideal supplementary text by a major player in the philosophy of mind. Opinionated, yes, but these opinions
are worth pondering. Clearing written and nicely organized--the chapters on Descartes, Hume, and Huxley give just
the right amount of historical background-this book will be a delight for both students and teachers."
--Fred Dretske, Stanford University
HarperCollins Publishers Web Site, February, 2001
Summary
The relation of mind to body has been argued about by philosophers for centuries. The Mind-Body Problem: An
Opinionated Introduction presents the problem as a debate between materialists about the mind and their opponents.
After examining the views of Descartes, Hume and Thomas Huxley the debate is traced through the twentieth century
to the present day. The emphasis is always on the arguments used, and the way one position develops from another.
By the end of the book the reader is afforded both a grasp of the state of the controversy, and how we got there.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Descartes' Dualism
Hume's Bundle Dualism
T. H. Huxley's Epiphenomenalism
Ryle's Rejection of Two Realms
The Identity Theory
The Causal Theory-Armstrong and Lewis
The Eliminativist Theory
Functionalism
Consciousness
The Sensible Qualities
Intentionality
