Movements of the Mind: A Theory of Attention, Intention and Action

"Movements of the Mind" explores the nature of mental agency, combining philosophical analysis of agency and empirical study of brain activity. It argues that attention and memory are essential components of intentional actions and provides a theory of agency, attention, intention, deduction, and introspection. The book aims to be relevant to philosophers and scientists interested in mind and agency.

Format: Hardback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 01 June 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Movements of the Mind: Exploring the Nature of Mental Agency

In his groundbreaking work, "Movements of the Mind," renowned philosopher and cognitive scientist Wu explores the intricate nature of mental agency. This comprehensive book delves into the philosophical analysis of the metaphysics of agency, drawing from various approaches to understand the essence of being an agent. By focusing on mental agency, Wu weaves together a rich tapestry of ideas, encompassing philosophical inquiry and cutting-edge neuroscience research. Through this interdisciplinary approach, he seeks to provide concrete explanations of key features of the mind, shedding light on the mechanisms that underpin our cognitive and behavioral processes.

The book is designed to be relevant and accessible to philosophers and scientists alike who are interested in exploring the complexities of mind and agency. Wu's clear and concise writing style makes the subject matter accessible to a broad audience, while his deep insights and rigorous arguments engage scholars and researchers in the field.

One of the central themes of "Movements of the Mind" is the role of attention in guiding the agent's response and intentions. Wu argues that actions have a core psychological structure, with attention playing a necessary role in shaping the agent's behavior. Attention, he suggests, functions as a practical memory, allowing the agent to recall previous experiences and use them to guide their actions. Wu further argues that attention and memory are closely intertwined, forming the foundation of an agent's intentionally doing things.

To support his claims, Wu integrates philosophical and empirical work to develop a comprehensive theory of intention and attention in action. He synthesizes insights from various philosophical traditions, such as rationalism, empiricism, and phenomenology, to provide a coherent framework for understanding the nature of intention and attention. Through this theoretical synthesis, Wu offers a novel account of three phenomena of current philosophical interest:

The basis of positively and negatively biased action: Wu explores how attention often leads to implicit bias, shaping our perceptions and decisions. He discusses how attention biases can influence our judgments, leading us to favor certain outcomes over others. By examining the dynamics of deductive reasoning and cognitive attention, Wu provides insights into how attention plays a crucial role in shaping our cognitive skills and abilities.

The psychology of introspective access to conscious perceptual experience: Wu delves into the psychology of introspective access to conscious perceptual experience. He discusses how we can gain insight into our own mental states and experiences, and how introspection can be used to understand the nature of consciousness and self-awareness. Wu also explores the limitations of introspection and discusses when it can fail and when it can succeed, providing a nuanced account of the complexities of introspective knowledge.

A theory of agency, whether human or non-human: Wu offers a theory of agency that encompasses both human and non-human agents. He discusses the nature of agency and the factors that contribute to it, including intention, consciousness, and self-awareness. Wu explores the differences between human and non-human agents and discusses the challenges and opportunities that arise from studying agency across different species.

In addition to developing a theory of agency, "Movements of the Mind" provides technical notions of automaticity and control, a theory of attention as selection to guide behavior, an account of intention as memory whose dynamics are revealed in empirical investigation of working memory, explications of sustained attention and vigilance, an explanation of biased behavior driven by biases on attention, normative aspects of attention as a skill, the role of learning in cognitive skill development, and much more.

By integrating philosophical and empirical work, Wu has produced a groundbreaking work that sheds light on the nature of mental agency and provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the complexities of the mind. "Movements of the Mind" is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the boundaries of human cognition and behavior, and it will undoubtedly inspire future research and debates in the field.

Weight: 630g
Dimension: 240 x 164 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192866899