Minds without Meanings: An Essay on the Content of Concepts

Jerry A. Fodor (Professor),Zenon W. Pylyshyn (Rutgers University - New Brunswick)

Minds without Meanings: An Essay on the Content of Concepts
Format
Paperback
Publisher
MIT Press Ltd
Country
United States
Published
2 September 2016
Pages
208
ISBN
9780262529815

Minds without Meanings: An Essay on the Content of Concepts

Jerry A. Fodor (Professor),Zenon W. Pylyshyn (Rutgers University - New Brunswick)

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.

This item is not currently in-stock. It can be ordered online and is expected to ship in approx 2 weeks

Our stock data is updated periodically, and availability may change throughout the day for in-demand items. Please call the relevant shop for the most current stock information. Prices are subject to change without notice.

Sign in or become a Readings Member to add this title to a wishlist.