Minds without Meanings

An Essay on the Content of Concepts

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Linguistics, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Mind & Body
Cover of the book Minds without Meanings by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn, The MIT Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn ISBN: 9780262320337
Publisher: The MIT Press Publication: December 5, 2014
Imprint: The MIT Press Language: English
Author: Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
ISBN: 9780262320337
Publisher: The MIT Press
Publication: December 5, 2014
Imprint: The MIT Press
Language: English

Two prominent thinkers argue for the possibility of a theory of concepts that takes reference to be concepts' sole semantic property.

In cognitive science, conceptual content is frequently understood as the “meaning” of a mental representation. This position raises largely empirical questions about what concepts are, what form they take in mental processes, and how they connect to the world they are about. In Minds without Meaning, Jerry Fodor and Zenon Pylyshyn review some of the proposals put forward to answer these questions and find that none of them is remotely defensible.

Fodor and Pylyshyn determine that all of these proposals share a commitment to a two-factor theory of conceptual content, which holds that the content of a concept consists of its sense together with its reference. Fodor and Pylyshyn argue instead that there is no conclusive case against the possibility of a theory of concepts that takes reference as their sole semantic property. Such a theory, if correct, would provide for the naturalistic account of content that cognitive science lacks—and badly needs. Fodor and Pylyshyn offer a sketch of how this theory might be developed into an account of perceptual reference that is broadly compatible with empirical findings and with the view that the mental processes effecting perceptual reference are largely preconceptual, modular, and encapsulated.

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

Two prominent thinkers argue for the possibility of a theory of concepts that takes reference to be concepts' sole semantic property.

In cognitive science, conceptual content is frequently understood as the “meaning” of a mental representation. This position raises largely empirical questions about what concepts are, what form they take in mental processes, and how they connect to the world they are about. In Minds without Meaning, Jerry Fodor and Zenon Pylyshyn review some of the proposals put forward to answer these questions and find that none of them is remotely defensible.

Fodor and Pylyshyn determine that all of these proposals share a commitment to a two-factor theory of conceptual content, which holds that the content of a concept consists of its sense together with its reference. Fodor and Pylyshyn argue instead that there is no conclusive case against the possibility of a theory of concepts that takes reference as their sole semantic property. Such a theory, if correct, would provide for the naturalistic account of content that cognitive science lacks—and badly needs. Fodor and Pylyshyn offer a sketch of how this theory might be developed into an account of perceptual reference that is broadly compatible with empirical findings and with the view that the mental processes effecting perceptual reference are largely preconceptual, modular, and encapsulated.

More books from The MIT Press

Cover of the book IT Strategy for Non-IT Managers by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Global Climate Policy by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Central Banking in Theory and Practice by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Connected Play by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book The Rediscovery of the Wild by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book In the Swarm by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Translating Happiness by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Anxiety and the Equation by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book The Chinese Typewriter by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book The Illusion of Conscious Will by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Energy at the End of the World by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Hacking Life by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Taking [A]part by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Making IT Work by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
Cover of the book Infectious Behavior by Jerry A. Fodor, Zenon W. Pylyshyn
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