Belief

A Pragmatic Picture

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Mind & Body, Science & Nature, Science
Cover of the book Belief by Aaron Z. Zimmerman, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Aaron Z. Zimmerman ISBN: 9780192537331
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: April 12, 2018
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Aaron Z. Zimmerman
ISBN: 9780192537331
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: April 12, 2018
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Have you ever called yourself a "pragmatist"? Have you ever wondered what that means? Aaron Zimmerman traces the origins of pragmatism to a theory of belief defended by the nineteenth-century Scottish philosopher Alexander Bain, and defends a novel take on the pragmatic theory in light of contemporary cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, and evolutionary biology. Pragmatists define their beliefs in terms of information poised to guide our more attentive, controlled actions. Zimmerman describes the consequences of this definition for the reader's thinking on the relation between psychology and philosophy, the mind and brain, the nature of delusion, faith, pretence, racism, and more. He employs research on animal cognition to argue against the propositional attitude analysis of belief now popular among Anglo-American philosophers, offers pragmatic diagnoses of Capgras syndrome and various forms of racial cognition, and defends William James' famous doctrine of the "will to believe". Zimmerman believes we often have room to believe what we want. Indeed, the adoption of a theory of belief is an instance of this very phenomenon.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Have you ever called yourself a "pragmatist"? Have you ever wondered what that means? Aaron Zimmerman traces the origins of pragmatism to a theory of belief defended by the nineteenth-century Scottish philosopher Alexander Bain, and defends a novel take on the pragmatic theory in light of contemporary cognitive neuroscience, social psychology, and evolutionary biology. Pragmatists define their beliefs in terms of information poised to guide our more attentive, controlled actions. Zimmerman describes the consequences of this definition for the reader's thinking on the relation between psychology and philosophy, the mind and brain, the nature of delusion, faith, pretence, racism, and more. He employs research on animal cognition to argue against the propositional attitude analysis of belief now popular among Anglo-American philosophers, offers pragmatic diagnoses of Capgras syndrome and various forms of racial cognition, and defends William James' famous doctrine of the "will to believe". Zimmerman believes we often have room to believe what we want. Indeed, the adoption of a theory of belief is an instance of this very phenomenon.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book The Talking Ape by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Augustine: A Very Short Introduction by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Understanding Other Minds by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Victorian Literary Culture by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Self-Expression by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Classical Literature: A Very Short Introduction by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Pickwick Papers by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book A Philosophical Enquiry into the Origin of our Ideas of the Sublime and the Beautiful by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Trial of the Kaiser by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Reveries of the Solitary Walker by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book External Beam Therapy by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book The Oxford Handbook of Causation by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Oxford Textbook of Medical Mycology by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
Cover of the book Governance of Addictions by Aaron Z. Zimmerman
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy