Minimalist Approaches to Nonlinguistic Thought

In Jose Luis Bermudez (ed.), Thinking Without Words. New York, US: Oxford University Press USA (2003)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

This chapter considers a deflationary or minimalist construal of the nature of nonlinguistic thought that might be deployed to finesse the apparent need to attribute thoughts to creatures that are not language-users. The aim of the minimalist proposal is to show that thinking behavior in nonlinguistic creatures can be understood in nonpropositional and perceptual terms, rather than through the attribution of propositional attitudes such as beliefs and desires. In opposition to this the book suggest that there are important types of nonlinguistic thought that cannot be accommodated in the manner proposed by the minimalists. The requirements of psychological explanation often demand that we attribute to nonlinguistic creatures thoughts that are structured, represent the world in a highly determinate way, and reflect the particular mode of presentation under which the creature apprehends its environment.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 101,597

External links

Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

The limits of thinking without words.Jose Luis Bermudez - 2003 - In Jose Luis Bermudez (ed.), Thinking Without Words. New York, US: Oxford University Press USA.
Ascribing Thoughts to Nonlinguistic Creatures Modes of Presentation.Jose Luis Bermudez - 2003 - In Jose Luis Bermudez (ed.), Thinking Without Words. New York, US: Oxford University Press USA.
Rationality without Language.Jose Luis Bermudez - 2003 - In Jose Luis Bermudez (ed.), Thinking Without Words. New York, US: Oxford University Press USA.
Two Approaches to the Nature of Thought.Jose Luis Bermudez - 2003 - In Jose Luis Bermudez (ed.), Thinking Without Words. New York, US: Oxford University Press USA.
Thinking Without Words.Jose Luis Bermudez - 2003 - New York, US: Oxford University Press USA.
Language and thinking about thoughts.Jose Luis Bermudez - 2003 - In Jose Luis Bermudez (ed.), Thinking Without Words. New York, US: Oxford University Press USA.
Animal Mindreading and the Principle of Conservatism.Tyler K. Fagan - 2016 - Southern Journal of Philosophy 54 (2):189-208.
In defense of wordless thoughts about thoughts.Robert W. Lurz - 2007 - Mind and Language 22 (3):270–296.

Analytics

Added to PP
2016-10-25

Downloads
7 (#1,640,750)

6 months
6 (#873,397)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Jose Luis Bermudez
Texas A&M University

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references