Description

Seeing, Doing, and Knowing is an original and comprehensive philosophical treatment of sense perception as it is currently investigated by cognitive neuroscientists. Its central theme is the task-oriented specialization of sensory systems across the biological domain; these systems coevolve with an organism's learning and action systems, providing the latter with classifications of external objects in terms of sensory categories purpose--built for their need. On the basis of this central idea, Matthen presents novel theories of perceptual similarity, content, and realism. His work will be a stimulating resource for a wide range of scholars and students across philosophy and psychology.

Features

• Ground-breaking philosophical study of sense perception
• Written for an interdisciplinary audience: the cognitive science is made accessible
• Makes important new contributions across psychology and philosophy of mind

Reviews

"...Matthen has many fascinating things to say...It is important to state up front, though, that much of the value of this book lies in the technical details. Matthen is a first-class philosopher with an imposing command of the scientific literature." --Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

"Mohan Matthen's Seeing, Doing and Knowing is an impressive and important contribution to the philosophy of perception, and an empirically informed attempt to understand intentionality and its objects by appealing to biological function.... Matthen's book is extremely stimulating. Any philosopher interested in perception or intentionality will find something useful; every nook and cranny is filled with interesting ideas and insight."--Franklin Scott, Philosophical Psychology

Product Details

384 pages; 10 line illus.; ISBN13: 978-0-19-926850-4ISBN10: 0-19-926850-9

About the Author(s)