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{{Infobox book
{{Infobox book
| name = How the Mind Works
| name = How the Mind Works
| image = File:How the Mind Works, first edition.jpg
| image = How the Mind Works, first edition.jpg
| caption = Cover of the first edition
| caption = Cover of the first edition
| author = [[Steven Pinker]]
| author = [[Steven Pinker]]
Line 9: Line 9:
| publisher = [[W. W. Norton & Company]]
| publisher = [[W. W. Norton & Company]]
| pub_date = 1997
| pub_date = 1997
| media_type = Print ([[Hardcover]] and [[Paperback]])
| media_type = Print ([[hardcover]] and [[paperback]])
| pages = 660
| pages = 660
| isbn = 978-0-393-04535-2
| isbn = 978-0-393-04535-2
Line 16: Line 16:
}}
}}


'''''How the Mind Works''''' is a 1997 book by Canadian-American [[cognitive science|cognitive scientist]] [[Steven Pinker]], in which the author attempts to explain some of the human mind's poorly understood functions and quirks in [[evolution]]ary terms. Drawing heavily on the paradigm of [[evolutionary psychology]] articulated by [[John Tooby]] and [[Leda Cosmides]], Pinker covers subjects such as [[Visual perception|vision]], [[emotion]], [[feminism]], and "the [[meaning of life]]". He argues for both a [[computational theory of mind]] and a [[Neo-Darwinism|neo-Darwinist]] / [[Adaptationism|adaptationist]] approach to evolution, all of which he sees as the central components of evolutionary psychology. He criticizes [[difference feminism]] because he believes scientific research has shown that women and men differ little or not at all in their moral reasoning.<ref>Pinker, S. ''How the Mind Works'' (Norton, 1997) p. 50</ref> The book was a [[Pulitzer Prize]] Finalist.
'''''How the Mind Works''''' is a 1997 book by the Canadian-American cognitive psychologist [[Steven Pinker]], in which the author attempts to explain some of the human mind's poorly understood functions and quirks in [[evolution]]ary terms. Drawing heavily on the paradigm of [[evolutionary psychology]] articulated by [[John Tooby]] and [[Leda Cosmides]], Pinker covers subjects such as [[Visual perception|vision]], [[emotion]], [[feminism]], and "the [[meaning of life]]". He argues for both a [[computational theory of mind]] and a [[neo-Darwinist]], [[adaptationist]] approach to evolution, all of which he sees as the central components of evolutionary psychology. He criticizes [[difference feminism]] because he believes scientific research has shown that women and men differ little or not at all in their moral reasoning.<ref>Pinker, S. ''How the Mind Works'' (Norton, 1997) p. 50</ref> The book was a [[Pulitzer Prize]] Finalist.


==Reception==
==Reception==
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Pinker responded to Fodor's criticisms in ''[[Mind & Language]]''. Pinker argued that Fodor had attacked [[straw man]] positions, wryly suggesting a possible title for his riposte as ''No One Ever Said it Did''.<ref>'So How ''Does'' the Mind Work?' ''Mind & Language'', 20/1 (Feb 2005), p. 1</ref>
Pinker responded to Fodor's criticisms in ''[[Mind & Language]]''. Pinker argued that Fodor had attacked [[straw man]] positions, wryly suggesting a possible title for his riposte as ''No One Ever Said it Did''.<ref>'So How ''Does'' the Mind Work?' ''Mind & Language'', 20/1 (Feb 2005), p. 1</ref>


[[Daniel Levitin]] has criticized Pinker for referring to music as an "auditory cheesecake" in the book.<ref name="Interview with Daniel Levitin">{{cite web | url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/musicinstinct/blog/interview-with-daniel-levitin/part-two/27/ | title=Interview with Daniel Levitin | publisher=Pbs.org | date=May 20, 2009 | accessdate=December 29, 2012}}</ref> In his book ''[[This Is Your Brain on Music]]'' (2006), Levitin takes some time in the last chapter to refute Pinker’s arguments. When asked about Levitin's book by ''[[New York Times]]'' journalist [[Clive Thompson (journalist)|Clive Thompson]], Pinker said he hadn't read it.<ref name="Music of the Hemispheres">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/arts/music/31thom.html?pagewanted=all | title=Music of the Hemispheres | newspaper=[[New York Times]] | date=December 31, 2006 | accessdate=December 29, 2012 | author=Thompson, Clive}}</ref>
[[Daniel Levitin]] has criticized Pinker for referring to music as an "auditory cheesecake" in the book.<ref name="Interview with Daniel Levitin">{{cite web | url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/musicinstinct/blog/interview-with-daniel-levitin/part-two/27/ | title=Interview with Daniel Levitin | publisher=Pbs.org | date=May 20, 2009 | accessdate=December 29, 2012}}</ref> In his book ''[[This Is Your Brain on Music]]'' (2006), Levitin takes some time in the last chapter to rebut Pinker’s arguments. When asked about Levitin's book by ''[[New York Times]]'' journalist [[Clive Thompson (journalist)|Clive Thompson]], Pinker said he hadn't read it.<ref name="Music of the Hemispheres">{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/arts/music/31thom.html?pagewanted=all | title=Music of the Hemispheres | newspaper=[[New York Times]] | date=December 31, 2006 | accessdate=December 29, 2012 | author=Thompson, Clive}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060619122521/http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/books/htmw/index.html Pinker's website on ''How the Mind Works'']
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060619122521/http://pinker.wjh.harvard.edu/books/htmw/index.html Pinker's website on ''How the Mind Works'']
* [http://edtech.rice.edu/www/?option=com_iwebcast&task=webcast&action=details&event=315 Video of a 1999 lecture based on the book]{{dead link|date=February 2020}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110725113906/http://edtech.rice.edu/www/?option=com_iwebcast&task=webcast&action=details&event=315 Video of a 1999 lecture based on the book]
* {{cite paper | url = http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/pub/WWW/faculty/rapaport/Papers/pinker.ps | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040914225256/http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/pub/WWW/faculty/rapaport/Papers/pinker.ps | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2004-09-14 | format = PostScript | title = Ten page review | authorlink = William J. Rapaport | first = William J. | last = Rapaport | citeseerx = 10.1.1.45.9908 }}
* {{cite web | url = http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/pub/WWW/faculty/rapaport/Papers/pinker.ps | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20040914225256/http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/pub/WWW/faculty/rapaport/Papers/pinker.ps | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2004-09-14 | format = PostScript | title = Ten page review | authorlink = William J. Rapaport | first = William J. | last = Rapaport | citeseerx = 10.1.1.45.9908 }}
* "[http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Fodor_on_Pinker_98.html The Trouble with Psychological Darwinism]" by [[Jerry Fodor]], a critical review of ''How the Mind Works''
* "[http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Fodor_on_Pinker_98.html The Trouble with Psychological Darwinism]" by [[Jerry Fodor]], a critical review of ''How the Mind Works''
* "[http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Fodor_00.html The mind doesn't work that way]", abstract of a book by [[Jerry Fodor]] in response to ''How the Mind Works''
* "[http://cogweb.ucla.edu/Abstracts/Fodor_00.html The mind doesn't work that way]", abstract of a book by [[Jerry Fodor]] in response to ''How the Mind Works''

Latest revision as of 01:31, 11 September 2023

How the Mind Works
Cover of the first edition
AuthorSteven Pinker
SpracheEnglisch
SubjectCognitive science
PublisherW. W. Norton & Company
Publication date
1997
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Pages660
ISBN978-0-393-04535-2
Preceded byThe Language Instinct 
Followed byWords and Rules 

How the Mind Works is a 1997 book by the Canadian-American cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker, in which the author attempts to explain some of the human mind's poorly understood functions and quirks in evolutionary terms. Drawing heavily on the paradigm of evolutionary psychology articulated by John Tooby and Leda Cosmides, Pinker covers subjects such as vision, emotion, feminism, and "the meaning of life". He argues for both a computational theory of mind and a neo-Darwinist, adaptationist approach to evolution, all of which he sees as the central components of evolutionary psychology. He criticizes difference feminism because he believes scientific research has shown that women and men differ little or not at all in their moral reasoning.[1] The book was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist.

Reception

[edit]

Jerry Fodor, considered one of the fathers of the computational theory of mind, criticized the book. Fodor wrote a book called The Mind Doesn't Work That Way, saying "There is, in short, every reason to suppose that the Computational Theory is part of the truth about cognition. But it hadn't occurred to me that anyone could suppose that it's a very large part of the truth; still less that it's within miles of being the whole story about how the mind works". He continued, "I was, and remain, perplexed by an attitude of ebullient optimism that's particularly characteristic of Pinker's book. As just remarked, I would have thought that the last forty or fifty years have demonstrated pretty clearly that there are aspects of higher mental processes into which the current armamentarium of computational models, theories and experimental techniques offers vanishingly little insight."[2]

Pinker responded to Fodor's criticisms in Mind & Language. Pinker argued that Fodor had attacked straw man positions, wryly suggesting a possible title for his riposte as No One Ever Said it Did.[3]

Daniel Levitin has criticized Pinker for referring to music as an "auditory cheesecake" in the book.[4] In his book This Is Your Brain on Music (2006), Levitin takes some time in the last chapter to rebut Pinker’s arguments. When asked about Levitin's book by New York Times journalist Clive Thompson, Pinker said he hadn't read it.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Pinker, S. How the Mind Works (Norton, 1997) p. 50
  2. ^ Fodor, Jerry (2001). The Mind Doesn't Work That Way: The Scope and Limits of Computational Psychology. MIT Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0262561464.
  3. ^ 'So How Does the Mind Work?' Mind & Language, 20/1 (Feb 2005), p. 1
  4. ^ "Interview with Daniel Levitin". Pbs.org. May 20, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
  5. ^ Thompson, Clive (December 31, 2006). "Music of the Hemispheres". New York Times. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
[edit]
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