Skip to Main Content

Meaning, Mind, and Knowledge

Online ISBN:
9780191766336
Print ISBN:
9780199665822
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
Book

Meaning, Mind, and Knowledge

Christopher S. Hill
Christopher S. Hill
Brown University
Find on
Published online:
16 April 2014
Published in print:
6 March 2014
Online ISBN:
9780191766336
Print ISBN:
9780199665822
Publisher:
Oxford University Press

Abstract

This book has four main concerns—meaning, the psychophysical identity thesis, representationalist theories of phenomenal consciousness, and the nature of knowledge. In an initial section on meaning, it presents a deflationary theory of truth, reference, and correspondence with fact, and offers an account of the utility of these semantic notions. The second section begins by defending the psychophysical identity thesis against a number of prominent objections. Eventually, however, it arrives at the view that the identity thesis should give way to representationalist accounts of experience. Building on this conclusion, the third section presents a detailed representationalist solution to the mind–body problem. Among other things, it undercuts arguments for dualism by maintaining that all awareness, including awareness of qualia, is governed by an appearance/reality distinction. The fourth section is concerned with knowledge and justified belief. It defends reliabilist theories of epistemic justification, offers a new proposal concerning the sources of modal knowledge, and presents a robust account of the a priori.

Contents
Close
This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Close

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

View Article Abstract & Purchase Options

For full access to this pdf, sign in to an existing account, or purchase an annual subscription.

Close