The Rediscovery of the Mind
Philosopher John Searle says that many philosophers are mistaken in the way they view the mind and the body, noting that they rely on old vocabulary and fail to consider how the mind actually works in real life.
The Role of Language
Philosopher Hilary Putnam explains his statement that "...the belief that language describes something outside of ourselves plays an essential role in our human lives." In so doing, Professor Putnam readily acknowledges ..
The Role of Philosophers
Philosopher Hilary Putnam talks about the value of those philosophers who are part of what he calls "public philosophy." He argues that the work they do is particularly important in today's "sound bite" era, when in-dept..
The Scientific View of Human Nature
Continuing his discussion of science and its limitations, philosopher Hubert Dreyfus says that science is good at figuring out facts, like the genetic code or what human beings need in order to survive. Where science fal..
The Social Role in the Self
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about the self, noting that there's more to it than just intelligence. There is also a social component which Professor Dennett believes is just as critical as the intelligence component ..
The Soul
Philosopher Daniel Dennett talks about the concept of the soul. He likens it to a classic example of a dues ex machina, calling it a preposterous non-explanation of why humans are superior to animals.
The Turing Test
Philosopher Hilary Putnam discusses the Turing test and explains why he doesn't think it's a valid method by which to establish that a machine can be considered conscious and capable of thinking.
The Turing Test
Philosopher John Searle talks about the Turing test, based on a paper written by Alan Turing in 1950, in which a test was devised to measure whether a computer could simulate the working of a human brain.
Theoreticians and Experimenters
Philosopher Ian Hacking talks about the differences in approach and skill sets between those who practice science primarily as theoreticians, and others who are primarily experimenters. Professor Hacking points out that ..
Theories of Truth
Philosopher Hilary Putnam states his objections to the various theories of truth (coherence, correspondence, pragmatist and, more recently, deflationist) that have been commonly cited by philosophers of science since the..