Contemporary Materialism A Reader

Materialism or 'physicalism' has become the common background against which contemporary scientists and philosophers investigate the world. The doctrine that all phenomena are physical forms the basis of much current thinking in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, epistemology, the theory of meaning, and the theory of value. Contemporary Materialism brings together key articles by many leading contemporary philosophers.The contemporary classics included in this collection chart problems, positions and themes concerning the issue of materialism. To bring the collection up-to-date, each author was invited to provide a follow-up piece designed to assess the progress and development of the field since the first appearance of the contemporary classic. Many of the contributors have supplied these useful follow-up pieces.The editors have provided a substantial introduction to guide the students through the major themes. The selections themselves are largely non-technical and accessible. Contemporary Materialism will be vital reading for anyone concerned with the wide-ranging impact of materialism on contemporary philosophy.Moser, Paul K. is the author of 'Contemporary Materialism A Reader' with ISBN 9780415108638 and ISBN 0415108632.