Mapping the minds of others

Boyle, Alexandria (2019) Mapping the minds of others. Review of Philosophy and Psychology, 10 (4). 747 - 767. ISSN 1878-5158

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Abstract

Mindreaders can ascribe representational states to others. Some can ascribe representational states – states with semantic properties like accuracy-aptness. I argue that within this group of mindreaders, there is substantial room for variation – since mindreaders might differ with respect to the representational format they take representational states to have. Given that formats differ in their formal features and expressive power, the format one takes mental states to have will significantly affect the range of mental state attributions one can make, and the ease or difficulty with which one can make them. I illustrate this by considering what it would be to take mental states to be map-like in format, showing that this would result in a distinctively limited form of mindreading. I close by articulating the significance of this for the emerging picture of great ape mindreading.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.springer.com/journal/13164
Additional Information:	© 2019 The Author
Divisions:	Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2022 14:39
Last Modified:	09 Mar 2024 19:18
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/116582

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