Mind and brain

the long version

This lively new dialogue provides a clear and compelling overview of the mind-body problem suitable for both introductory students and those who have some background in the philosophy of mind. Topics include immortality; materialism; Descartes's 'Divisibility Argument' for dualism; the 'Argument from Introspection'; the problems with dualism; the interaction between mind and brain; parallelism; the 'type/token' distinction within materialism; recent arguments against materialism and its ability to explain consciousness; the epistemological problem of other minds; the nature of inductive knowledge; and the 'Inverted Spectrum Argument'. Also included are a brief introduction, helpful notes, suggestions for further reading, a list of study questions designed to enhance classroom discussion and to serve as a resource for the development of paper topics, and an index of key terms.