About this title: Men have evolved from animals, and animals from inanimate matter, but what has evolved is qualitatively different from the inanimate matter from which it began. Both men and the higher animals have a mental life of sensation, thought, purpose, desire, and belief. Although these mental states in part cause, and are caused by, brain states, they are ...
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Description: Acceptable. Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows definite wear, and perhaps considerable marking on inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
Description: Very Good. Great condition for a used book! Minimal wear. Shipped to over one million happy customers. Your purchase benefits world literacy! read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN-13:9780198249153ISBN:0198249152
Description: Fine. Almost in new condition. Book shows only very slight signs of use. Cover and binding are undamaged and pages show minimal use. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More. read more
Edition: First Paperback Edition
Binding: Card Covers
Publisher: Clarendon Press, Oxford
Date Published: 1987
ISBN-13:9780198244837ISBN:0198244835
Description: Near Fine. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall. 323pp. A lovely copy of this paperback. The spine is slightly faded with a little creasing to the overlying laminate covering. A couple of page corner tips are ever so slightly turned. Fresh and clean. A near fine copy. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 1986
ISBN-13:9780198249153ISBN:0198249152
Description: Good. No dust jacket. Ex-library. GOOD/NO JACKET. Sewn binding. Paper over boards. 323 p. Audience: General/trade. Ex-college library item with usual markings, stamps, etc. No dust jacket. Tight Binding, Straight Spine, Crisp, Clean Pages. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 1986-07-24
ISBN-13:9780198249153ISBN:0198249152
Description: VG Very Good in VG Very Good jacket. Hardback with Dustjacket. Book is very good with no creases to cover and all pages clean. Binding is tight and square. read more
Description: Fine. 0198236980 Like new and Unread! ** REVISED EDITION ** Text is clean and unmarked! Has a publishers mark. May have minor shelf wear from storage. --Be Sure to Compare Seller Engine Feedback and Ratings Before Purchasing-- read more
Description: Good. Moderate cover and spine (creases). Many highlites/some notes on half of the book. Otherwise it is in good reading condition. read more
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780198236986ISBN:0198236980
Description: Very Good with no dust jacket. 0198236980. Book is clean and tight and seemingly unread; minor shelfwear, small (1/2") triangles of tape (apparently protective, as there are no tears) on all four corners front and back covers; else fine.; 0.87 x 8.35 x 5.43 Inches; 376 pages. read more
Edition: Revised Edition
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780198236986ISBN:0198236980
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 216x138 mm. This book is printed on demand. (allow 1-2 weeks for printing) (376) this is a revised and updated version of richard swinburne's controversial treatment of the eternal philosophical problem of the relation between mind and body. he argues that we can only make sense of the interaction between the mental and the physical in terms of the soul, and that there is no scientific explanation of the evolution of the soul. (Paperback) read more
Description: New. PLEASE NOTE: All books are promptly shipped from our UK warehouse using Royal Mail or DHL. International Priority mail for non-UK deliveries. Print on demand title. Delivery is typically 3-5 working days for UK delivery. Heavier or more expensive books are shipped with a TRACKING NUMBER. Professional and reliable bookseller (est.1987). Men have evolved from animals, and animals from inanimate matter, but what has evolved is qualitatively different from the inanimate matter from which it ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PR
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780198236986ISBN:0198236980
Description: New. This is a revised and updated version of Swinburne's controversial treatment of the eternal philosophical problem of the relation between mind and body. He argues that we can only make sense of the interaction between the mental and the physical in t... read more
Edition: 2 REV ED
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS Country = UNITED KINGDOM
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780198236986ISBN:0198236980
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 374 pages. This book is printed on demand (allow 1-2 weeks for printing) this is a revised and updated version of richard swinburne's controversial treatment of the eternal philosophical problem of the relation between mind and body. he argues that we can only make sense of the interaction between the mental and the physical in terms of the soul, and that there is no scientific explanation of the evolution of the soul. edition 2 rev ed (Paperback) read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Oxford University Press(UK)
Date Published: 1997
ISBN-13:9780198236986ISBN:0198236980
Description: New. This is a revised and updated version of Richard Swinburne's controversial treatment of the eternal philosophical problem of the relation between mind and body. He argues that we can only make sense of the interaction between the mental and the physic... read more
"In a nutshell, this is a philosophy book with a focus on a theory of ontology. It can be very technical, but it makes a lot of great insight for the Christian Worldview for deeper understanding of dualistic metaphysics."
""The theme of the book is the nature and source of the differences between the inanimate objects which alone existed on the Earth at its formation, and the animals and men which have subsequently evolved."
In "The Evolution of the Soul," Richard Swinburne tackles the philosophy of mind with a thorough and intriguing model that amounts to a version of Cartesian substance dualism. Taking advantage of such diverse fields as psychology and quantum mechanics, the book covers the nature of the mental life, the origin and development of souls, differences between human and animal souls, and the possibility of life after death.
The later chapters get pretty technical, but two of my favorite parts are very accessible:
1) The first section of the book deals with the five kinds of mental states that compose the mental life: sensations, thoughts, beliefs, purposings, and desires. These chapters provide an excellent framework for any discussion of the philosophy of mind.
2) Swinburne's four principles of inductive inference (credulity, testimony, simplicity, and charity) are clearly presented and compellingly defended.
Overall, the book is excellent. But there is one aspect that begs for further development. (To be clear, I think this "deficiency" is relatively minor; it doesn't undercut Swinburne's position, but it leaves room for refinement or modification.)
Swinburne says a lot about what a soul does, but relatively little about what a soul is. This has the effect of reducing the soul to its functions, which amounts to identifying the soul with consciousness. In turn, that raises the question of whether the soul continues to exist when it's not functioning (Does the soul exist while you're asleep?). Swinburne thinks so, but his account of how this works verges on arbitrariness (and he admits as much).
Swinburne repeatedly emphasizes the radical differences between the physical and the mental, but he seems to imply that mentality "evolved" in a way much like biological evolution, though he never expands on this. Since he doesn't offer much by way of describing what the soul is, his scientific/physical commitments get in the way of his dualism, leaving a sense that there's more to be said.
Ultimately, "The Evolution of the Soul" deserves its standing as a premier work in the philosophy of mind. It has much to offer anyone interested in the subject, whatever their prior convictions.
NOTE: The Revised Edition includes seven new appendices covering a range of related topics (and Appendix D touches on some of my aforementioned concerns, though not all)."
"Very good book overall, although I personally think Swinburne would have been well served to spend a little more time on fewer issues instead of glancing at many.
Swinburne's view is that we are body/soul composites, that the soul evolved naturally with the human organism, and that the functioning of the soul relies on the functioning of the brain."
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