The philosophy of mind is one of the fastest-growing areas in philosophy, not least because of its connections with related areas of psychology, linguistics and computation. This
Companion is an alphabetically arranged reference guide to the subject, firmly rooted in the philosophy of mind, but with a number of entries that survey adjacent fields of interest.
The book is introduced by the editor's substantial Essay on the Philosophy of Mind which serves as an overview of the subject, and is closely referenced to the entries in the Companion. Among the entries themselves are several "self-profiles" by leading philosophers in the field, including Chomsky, Davidson, Dennett, Dretske, Fodor, Lewis, Searle and Stalnaker, in which their own positions within the subject are articulated. In some more complex areas, more than one author has been invited to write on the same topic, giving a polarity of viewpoints within the book's overall coverage.
2nd Edition contents
This is in development. As with the epistemology, aesthetics and metaphysics Companions, the Mind volume was an A-Z, with two innovations - a long overview essay by Sam Guttenplan, and a number of self-portraits by prominent philosophers of mind (a feature that will be cloned for the 2e Epistemology volume). We may drop the long essay - still gathering feedback on that - but the portraits will remain (updated). Sam is also considering a section of pairs of essays on a number of the key research areas that have seen the most activity over the last 10 years. The bulk of the change will be in additional entries in the A-Z, which track the development of the field (reviewers make a wealth of suggetions). Other ideas:
1. In the case of those self-portraits by philosophers who have since died (Davidson and Lewis), publish appreciations of their work by a new author.
2. Invite John McDowell to do a self-portrait. I almost convinced him last time around, and I might succeed now that Mind and World has been so widely discussed (if not understood). He is an old friend, and if he agreed, the essay might prove as valuable as David Lewis's.
3. Commission substantial-ish articles (possibly pairs of articles) on: present state of consciousnesss studies, present state of computational model of the mind, present state of theory-theory vs simulation theory debate (Jane Heal?), something on Freud and neuroscience, at least two pieces on the importance of cognitive neuropsychology for the study of mind.
4. Two or perhaps three articles with slightly different briefs on the evolution of mental phenomena (emotions, language and morality?)
5. Articles specifically on blindsight and synaesthesia.
6. Something more on action (perhaps discussing Libet-style results)
