The Role of Representations in Human Thought

In this open access collection, a team of experts critically examine the role of mental representations in the philosophy of mind and question the indispensability of representations in understanding cognition. Divided into four sections, the collection covers the clarification of ‘representation’, its implications for perception, its application in scientific models, and the impact of social representations on individual thought. With topics ranging from the representational nature of perceptual experience to the interplay between mental and public representations, the volume provides fresh perspectives on long-standing debates and explores how representations might distort our comprehension of mental processes. Ideal for advanced students and scholars in philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and related disciplines, this is a valuable resource for understanding the evolving role of representations in science and philosophy. It addresses foundational questions about how we understand, use, and critically assess representations in both scientific and everyday contexts, broadening inquiries into cognition and representation. The ebook editions of this book are available open access under a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence on bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the National Innovation Office (NKFIH).