Other Minds

Description

How do I know whether there are minds besides my own? This is the problem of other minds in philosophy. It is also a question which invokes at times an impatient response: of course there are other minds, our relationships with each other is the proof of that. The problem of other minds raises many questions which are at the heart of philosophy - how it is we know, what is the mind and whether we can be certain about any of our beliefs. Other Minds is a compelling investigation of this problem. Anita Avramides clarifies the nature of the problem and situates the response major philosophers have given in relation to their general philosophy. The first half of the book provides an historical overview of the problem from the Ancient Sceptics through to Descartes, Malebranche, Locke, Berkeley, Reid and Wittgenstein. The second part of the book investigates the views of influential contemporary philosophers such as Strawson, Davidson, Nagel and Searle. A key feature of the book is its detailed discussion of Reid and Malebranche whose influence on this problem has not been thoroughly explored until now. Other Minds provides a clear and accessible introduction to one of the most important problems in philosophy. It will prove invaluable to all students of philosophy.

Anita Avramides is Lecturer and Fellow at St Hilda's College, University of Oxford.

'A worthwhile contribution. Its style makes it accessible to students, and it also deserves the attention of experts.' - Philosophical Quarterly '...a major contribution to the literature on other minds.' - Philosophical Books