Overview
When we interact with animals, we intuitively read thoughts and feelings into their expressions and actions - it is easy to suppose that they have minds like ours. And as technology grows more sophisticated, we might soon find ourselves interpreting the behaviour of robots too in human terms. It is natural for us to humanize other beings in this way, but is it philosophically or scientifically justifiable? How different might the minds of animals or machines be to ours? As David McFarland asks here, could robots ever feel guilty, and is it correct to suppose your dog can truly be happy? Can we ever know what non-human minds might be like, or will the answer be forever out of our reach? These are central and important questions in the philosophy of mind, and this book is an accessible exploration of the differing philosophical positions that can be taken on the issue. McFarland looks not only at philosophy, but also examines new evidence from the science of animal behaviour plus the latest developments in robotics and artificial intelligence, to show how many different - and sometimes surprising - conclusions we can draw about the nature of 'alien minds'.
Full Product Details
Author: David McFarland (Emeritus Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Imprint: Oxford University Press
Dimensions:
Width: 14.80cm
, Height: 2.40cm
, Length: 22.20cm
Weight: 0.458kg
ISBN: 9780199219292
ISBN 10: 019921929
Pages: 264
Publication Date: 17 April 2008
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Out of Print
Availability: In Print
Limited stock is available. It will be ordered for you and shipped pending supplier's limited stock.
Reviews
Poor review from QRBlisted in Science Book News, no. 162 from 7/20/09 There is much food for thought here for both scientists and philosophers...a patient, sympathetic, and largely accurate discussion. --BioScience Poor review from QRBlisted in Science Book News, no. 162 from 7/20/09 There is much food for thought here for both scientists and philosophers...a patient, sympathetic, and largely accurate discussion. --BioScience
Poor review from QRBlisted in Science Book News, no. 162 from 7/20/09 There is much food for thought here for both scientists and philosophers...a patient, sympathetic, and largely accurate discussion. --BioScience
<br>Poor review from QRB<br>listed in Science Book News, no. 162 from 7/20/09<br> There is much food for thought here for both scientists and philosophers...a patient, sympathetic, and largely accurate discussion. --BioScience<br>
Author Information
David McFarland is well known for his studies in animal behavior and more recently the broadening of this understanding to ""artificial ethology"" and robotics. He is the author of a number of books, including Animal Behaviour: Psychobiology, Ethology, and Evolution, and OUP's Companion to Animal Behaviour as well as the OPR Animal Behaviour (2006).
