The The Priority of Mind

The Priority of Mind is a book that argues that the mind is prior to matter, exploring the sources and abilities of the mind, situating it in the wider world, and proposing a relation between mind and virtue. It explores the different philosophical approaches to the mind-matter question taken by thinkers over time, settling on idealism as the teaching of most classical philosophers and consistent with modern science.

Format: Paperback / softback
Publication date: 26 October 2023
Publisher: James Clarke & Co Ltd

The mind-body problem has been a central issue in philosophy for centuries, with philosophers seeking to understand the relationship between the mind and the body. One prominent view is that the mind is just a by-product of the brain, with the brain acting as the physical mechanism that processes information and generates thoughts and emotions. However, there is a growing movement among philosophers who argue that the mind is the fundamental reality, which creates matter.

Keith Ward, in his book "The Priority of Mind," presents a compelling defense of the mind-as-prior-to-matter view. Ward begins by unpacking the sources and abilities of the mind, exploring its relationship to the body, and situating it within the wider world of the cosmos. He also proposes a relation between mind and virtue, and the nature of mind after death.

Throughout the book, Ward examines the different philosophical approaches to the mind-matter question taken by thinkers over time. He identifies idealism as the teaching of most classical philosophers and as most consistent with modern science. Idealism holds that the mind is the fundamental reality, while matter is an illusion created by the mind.

Ward's clear and methodical exposition makes "The Priority of Mind" accessible to lay readers and scholars alike. He provides counterarguments against the materialist narrative that dominates much of popular philosophical thinking today, arguing that the mind cannot be reduced to the brain and that the mind-body problem cannot be solved through materialist explanations.

In conclusion, "The Priority of Mind" is a thought-provoking and compelling book that presents a strong defense of the mind-as-prior-to-matter view. Keith Ward's clear and methodical exposition makes this book accessible to a wide range of readers, and his counterarguments against the materialist narrative are insightful and thought-provoking. Whether you are a lay reader or a scholar of philosophy, "The Priority of Mind" is a must-read for anyone interested in the mind-body problem and the nature of the mind.

Weight: 148g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780227178973