Cognitive Science: An Introduction to the Mind And Brain

Cognitive Science is a major new guide to the central theories and problems in the study of the mind and brain. The authors clearly explain how and why cognitive science aims to understand the brain as a computational system that manipulates representations. They identify the roots of cognitive science in Descartes - who argued that all knowledge of the external world is filtered through some sort of representation - and examine the present-day role of Artificial Intelligence, computing, psychology, linguistics and neuroscience. Throughout, the key building blocks of cognitive science are clearly illustrated: perception, memory, attention, emotion, language, control of movement, learning, understanding and other important mental phenomena. Cognitive Science:

presents a clear, collaborative introduction to the subject
is the first textbook to bring together all the different strands of this new science in a unified approach
includes illustrations and exercises to aid the student

Daniel Kolak is Professor of Philosophy at William Paterson University in New Jersey, USA. He is Series Editor of the Wadsworth Philosophers series and Longman Library of Philosophy.

William Hirstein is Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Elmhurst College, Illinois, USA.

Peter Mandik is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Cognitive Science Laboratory Chairman at the William Paterson University in New Jersey, USA.

Jonathan Waskan is Assistant Professor at the Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Preface Introduction 1. Beginning Concepts 2. Windows on the Brain and Mind 3. Perception 4. Thought 5. Action and Emotion 6. Language 7. Consciousness