Representational Content and the Objects of Thought

This book defends a novel view of mental representation—of how, as thinkers, we represent the world as being. It responds to two problems in the philosophy of mind: the problem of first-personal, or egocentric, belief and the problem of thinking about nonexistents. The standard responses to these puzzles are either to deny that thought is essentially relational or to insist that it is possible to stand in relations to nonexistents. This book offers an error theory to the problem, which arises from a commitment to treating talk of propositions as talk of entities that exist and play a constitutive and explanatory role in the activity of thought.

Format: Hardback
Length: 215 pages
Publication date: 01 October 2021
Publisher: Springer Verlag, Singapore

This book presents a groundbreaking perspective on mental representation, delving into how we perceive and comprehend the world around us. It responds to two fundamental challenges in the philosophy of mind. The first problem revolves around first-personal beliefs, specifically the question of how we can hold beliefs about ourselves as individuals when beliefs are typically directed towards propositions and propositions are believed to possess their truth values independently of any perspective. The second problem concerns the notion of thinking about nonexistent entities, such as Santa Claus, in light of the widespread belief that thought inherently involves a relationship between a thinker and the object of thought.

Standard responses to these puzzles often fall into two camps: those who deny that thought is essentially relational or those who argue for the possibility of standing in relations to nonexistent entities. This book presents a novel error theory to address these challenges. The responses from this book stem from a shared commitment to treating talk of propositions, as the objects towards which our beliefs are directed, as talk of entities that exist and play a crucial and explanatory role in the process of thought.

By adopting this perspective, the book offers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of mental representation, shedding light on the nature of our beliefs, the relationships between thinkers and the objects of their thoughts, and the broader implications of these ideas for the philosophy of mind. It provides a fresh and thought-provoking approach to understanding the complex and fascinating realm of human cognition.

Weight: 432g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789811635168
Edition number: 1st ed. 2021