Pragmatist Neurophilosophy: American Philosophy and the Brain

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Pragmatist Neurophilosophy:American Philosophy and the Brain explains why the broad tradition of pragmatism is needed now more than ever. Bringing pragmatist philosophers together with cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists, this volume explores topics of urgent interest across neuroscience and philosophy from the perspective of pragmatism. Discussing how Charles Peirce, William James, John Dewey, and George Mead benefited from their laboratory-knowledge, contributors treat America's first-generation pragmatists as America's first cognitive scientists. They explain why scientists today should participate in pragmatic judgments, just as the classical pragmatists did, and how current scientists can benefit from their earlier philosophical explorations across the same territory. Looking at recent neuroscientific discoveries in relation to classical pragmatists, they explore emerging pragmatic views supported directly from the behavioral and brain sciences and describe how "neuropragmatism" engages larger cultural questions by adequately dealing with meaningful values and ethical ideals. Pragmatist Neurophilosophy is an important contribution to scholars of both pragmatism and neuroscience and a timely reminder that America's first generation of pragmatists did not stumble onto its principles, but designed them in light of biology's new discoveries.

Reviews

Pragmatist Neurophilosophy: American Philosophy and the Brain by a group of philosophers represents an interesting contribution to the philosophy of neuroscience. This book, edited by John R. Shook and Tibor Solymosi, offers diverse perspectives on the nature of the brain and human experience. -- Jay Schulkin, Research Professor of Neuroscience, Georgetown University, USA
At once hard-headed, entertaining, and forward-looking, these essays link the rich history of Pragmatism as an experimental enterprise to the present and future of research in neurophilosophy. Highly recommended for anyone interested in how to get beyond business as usual in the epistemology industry. -- Larry Hickman, Director of the Center for Dewey Studies and Professor of Philosophy, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, USA

Author Bio

John R. Shook, Ph.D., is Vice President for Education and Research and Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Inquiry in Amherst, New York. He also is Research Associate in Philosophy at the University at Buffalo. Tibor Solymosi has taught at Allegheny College in Pennsylvania, USA. He also runs the website www.neuropragmatism.com.