Belief

A Pragmatic Picture

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Mind & Body, Science & Nature, Science
Cover of the book Belief by Aaron Z. Zimmerman, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Aaron Z. Zimmerman ISBN: 9780192537331
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: April 12, 2018
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Aaron Z. Zimmerman
ISBN: 9780192537331
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: April 12, 2018
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Have you ever called yourself a "pragmatist"? Have you ever wondered what that means? Aaron Zimmerman traces the origins of pragmatism to a theory of belief defended by the nineteenth-century Scottish philosopher Alexander Bain, and defends a novel take on the pragmatic theory in light of contemporary cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, and evolutionary biology. Pragmatists define their beliefs in terms of information poised to guide our more attentive, controlled actions. Zimmerman describes the consequences of this definition for the reader's thinking on the relation between psychology and philosophy, the mind and brain, the nature of delusion, faith, pretence, racism, and more. He employs research on animal cognition to argue against the propositional attitude analysis of belief now popular among Anglo-American philosophers, offers pragmatic diagnoses of Capgras syndrome and various forms of racial cognition, and defends William James' famous doctrine of the "will to believe". Zimmerman believes we often have room to believe what we want. Indeed, the adoption of a theory of belief is an instance of this very phenomenon.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Have you ever called yourself a "pragmatist"? Have you ever wondered what that means? Aaron Zimmerman traces the origins of pragmatism to a theory of belief defended by the nineteenth-century Scottish philosopher Alexander Bain, and defends a novel take on the pragmatic theory in light of contemporary cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, and evolutionary biology. Pragmatists define their beliefs in terms of information poised to guide our more attentive, controlled actions. Zimmerman describes the consequences of this definition for the reader's thinking on the relation between psychology and philosophy, the mind and brain, the nature of delusion, faith, pretence, racism, and more. He employs research on animal cognition to argue against the propositional attitude analysis of belief now popular among Anglo-American philosophers, offers pragmatic diagnoses of Capgras syndrome and various forms of racial cognition, and defends William James' famous doctrine of the "will to believe". Zimmerman believes we often have room to believe what we want. Indeed, the adoption of a theory of belief is an instance of this very phenomenon.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Barry Lyndon by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Theory of Strategy by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Blackstone's Police Operational Handbook 2014: Law by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Process Philosophy and Organization Studies by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Hellenistic Age by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Schlechtriem & Schwenzer: Commentary on the UN Convention on the International Sale of Goods by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Margot Asquith's Great War Diary 1914-1916 by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Oxford Studies in Metaethics 13 by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Type 1 Diabetes by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Principles of International Investment Law by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Discourses of Mourning in Dante, Petrarch, and Proust by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Txtng: The Gr8 Db8 by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Internationalization of Government Procurement Regulation by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Compassionate Moral Realism by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy