The Mind Doesn't Work That Way

The Scope and Limits of Computational Psychology

Jerry A. Fodor

Recommended By

Book Synopsis

"The Mind Doesn't Work That Way" by Jerry A. Fodor is a captivating exploration of how the mind functions. Fodor critically examines popular theories that propose the mind operates as a computer or follows simple algorithms. With razor-sharp analysis, he challenges the idea that the mind can be reduced to a set of computational processes.

In this thought-provoking book, Fodor argues that the mind's intricate operations cannot be adequately understood through computational models alone. He highlights the limitations of computational theories, revealing how they oversimplify complex cognitive processes such as language acquisition, perception, and problem-solving.

Fodor proposes an alternative hypothesis called the "modularity of mind," which suggests that the mind is composed of specialized cognitive modules that are responsible for specific tasks. He presents compelling evidence from various domains, including language, vision, and reasoning, to support his theory.

Throughout the book, Fodor engages with opposing viewpoints and offers insightful critiques of alternative theories, shedding light on the fundamental flaws of these approaches.

"The Mind Doesn't Work That Way" is a must-read for anyone interested in cognitive science, philosophy of mind, or psychology. Fodor's comprehensive analysis challenges conventional wisdom and seeks to redefine our understanding of how the mind truly operates.

Explore More Books

See All
Pasture Perfect
The Talent Code
The Politics Industry
Getting It Done
Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs
Rage Becomes Her
Going Infinite
More Money Than God
The Macintosh Way
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
Ford vs. Ferrari
A Conflict of Visions
The Magic of Thinking Big
Capital Returns
Nothing To Lose
How To Buy Stocks
The Diversity Bonus
The Benedict Option
The Dragons of Eden
Jim Grant UNICEF Visionary
Ultralight Backpackin' Tips
Models of My Life
Pippi Longstocking
First Friends
No Bullshit Guide to Math and Physics
The Making of the President 1960
Numbers Don't Lie
Illusions
I'd Like To Play Alone, Please
Double your Profits
Seeing Serena
All Quiet on the Western Front
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
The Big Ship and Little Digger
Thing Explainer
The Second World War
Draft No. 4
The History of the Future
Machine Learning for Dummies
Liberal Privelege
AI Superpowers
The Making of a Manager
The British Are Coming
What We Owe the Future
She Has Her Mother's Laugh
Globalization and its Discontents
Changes in the Land
Open
Find Me Unafraid
Bitcoin is Venice
The Essential Writings
Aware
Googled
Benjamin Franklin
Invariances
In Other Words
The Individualists
The World That Wasn't
The Ascent of Money
United States of Socialism
Deep Learning
Die With Zero
Memoirs of My Life
Growth
State of the Art
Sun Rises in the Evening
The Wisdom Paradox
Delivering Happiness
The Intelligent Investor
Wind, Sand and Stars
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Co-Intelligence
Team Topologies
The New Jim Crow
The Art of Memoir
The Anatomy of Buzz
Dealing with China
The Passage of Power
Patient Capital
The MAGA Doctrine
The Columbian Exchange
On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right When You're Not
Monsoon
Maestro
Mess
Technical Analysis of the Financial Markets
Dream Big
Predictably Irrational
Whiplash
Napoleon
Oranges
Who Is Michael Ovitz
The Start-up of You
Ice Age
The Future of Capitalism
The Last Lecture
The Journey of Crazy Horse
What's Our Problem?
The Sandman
Wing Leader