How can one think about a thing, think something false about it, and still be thinking about that thing at all? If a concept is applied to something outside its meaning, how are we to say it does not mean that thing as well? The problem of misrepresentation is one of the central issues in contemporary philosophy of mind. Here, Mark Perlman criticizes the way all contemporary theories of mental representation seek to account for misrepresentation, concluding that it cannot be explained naturistically. Specifically, Perlman evaluates and criticizes the theories of mental content proposed by Fodor, Dretske, Millikan, Block, Harman and others, as well as examining verificationist approaches to meaning of Quine, Davidson and Stich. The book goes much further than criticism, however: Perlman formulates a naturalistic theory of representation that reluctantly accepts the unfortunate conclusion that there is no misrepresentation. He adds a pragmatic theory of content, which explains apparent misrepresentation as concept change. Mental representations can be good or bad in specific contexts and for specific purposes, but their correctness is not a matter of truth and falsity. The pragmatic approach to mental content has implications for epistemology, theories of truth, metaphysics, psychology, and AI (specifically connectionist networks). Readership: One of the most thorough examinations of mental representation and meaning holism available, this book should be read by everyone interested in the mind and how ideas can have meaning. It crosses boundaries from philosophy into psychology, linguistics, AI and cognitive science.

How can one think about a thing, think something false about it, and still be thinking about that thing at all? If a concept is applied to something outside its meaning, how are we to say it does not mean that thing as well? The problem of misrepresentation is one of the central issues in contemporary philosophy of mind. Here, Mark Perlman criticizes the way all contemporary theories of mental representation seek to account for misrepresentation, concluding that it cannot be explained naturistically. Specifically, Perlman evaluates and criticizes the theories of mental content proposed by Fodor, Dretske, Millikan, Block, Harman and others, as well as examining verificationist approaches to meaning of Quine, Davidson and Stich. The book goes much further than criticism, however: Perlman formulates a naturalistic theory of representation that reluctantly accepts the unfortunate conclusion that there is no misrepresentation. He adds a pragmatic theory of content, which explains apparent misrepresentation as concept change. Mental representations can be good or bad in specific contexts and for specific purposes, but their correctness is not a matter of truth and falsity. The pragmatic approach to mental content has implications for epistemology, theories of truth, metaphysics, psychology, and AI (specifically connectionist networks). Readership: One of the most thorough examinations of mental representation and meaning holism available, this book should be read by everyone interested in the mind and how ideas can have meaning. It crosses boundaries from philosophy into psychology, linguistics, AI and cognitive science.

Dr. Richard Polin's Neonatology Questions and Controversies series highlights the toughest challenges facing physicians and care providers in clinical practice, offering trustworthy guidance on up-to-date diagnostic and treatment options in the field. In each volume, renowned experts address the clinical problems of greatest concern to today's practitioners, helping you handle difficult practice issues and provide optimal, evidence-based care to every patient.The thoroughly updated, full-color, 4th Edition of Neurology:  Provides a clear management strategy for common and rare neonatal neurological disorders, offering guidance based on the most up-to-date understanding of underlying pathophysiology.  Places emphasis on controversial areas that can entail different approaches.  Features the most current clinical information throughout, including recent trials for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, acute management of symptomatic seizures, and congenital viral meningoencephalitis: neonatal herpes simplex virus, congenital cytomegalovirus, congenital Zika, and COVID-19.  Includes three new chapters on neurological and neurobehavioral evaluation in the neonatal period; white matter injury; and cerebellar hemorrhage in the premature infant.  Highlights gaps in knowledge that should serve as a strong stimulus for future research.  Utilizes a consistent chapter organization to help you find information quickly and easily, and contains numerous charts, graphs, radiographic images, and photographs throughout.  Offers the most authoritative advice available from world-class neonatologists/neurologists who share their knowledge of new trends and developments in neonatal care.  An eBook version is included with purchase. The eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud.  Purchase each volume individually, or get the entire 7-volume Neonatology Questions and Controversies set, which includes online access that allows you to search across all titles!  Gastroenterology and Nutrition  Hematology and Transfusion Medicine  Neonatal Hemodynamics  Infectious Disease, Immunology, and Pharmacology  Renal, Fluid, and Electrolyte Disorders  Neurology  The Newborn Lung 

This book describes the deep contradictions plague market economies. It shows how the influence of these contradictions sometimes subsides, allowing the economy to perform relatively well. But in time, these contradictions accumulate and economy declines as if it suffers from some degenerative disease. The policies designed to rise above these contradictions often spawn even more severe contradictions. This book describes how these contradictions have affected the economy of the United States in the past and the dangers that the future poses. For example, policies to stimulate the economy eventually lead to stagnation. Policies to make hold down wages make business even more uncompetitive. It also analyzes the destructive consequences of the military, finance, and the Federal Reserve. Finally, it debunks the mythological promise of a New Economy.

This is a very different sort of book on the Torah. It approaches the Torah with no awe or reverence, but with a linguist's sensitivity to language and linguistic processes - and a secular humanist's dispassionate curiosity about the central symbol of the Jewish people.
The book tells readers exactly what is in the Torah, to the extent that we can determine it. It presents the reader with a clear demarcation between translation and inference - between what the translated text actually says...and what rabbis and other Torah enthusiasts typically say that it says.
It questions centuries of Torah (and, by extension, Bible) reverence and proves, with actual Torah citations, that the supposed wisdom of the Torah is mostly the product of "rabbinical spin" - the process of transforming the simple, ancient (and in many places well-meaning) Torah text into a document of immense profundity and relevance to our times.
In one chapter, the book compares actual Torah text to a learned rabbi's statements about what the text says and means. It shows how the rabbi freely mixes his own metaphors and interpretations - and sometimes his outright inventions of material - together with paraphrases and quotes of actual Torah content, thereby giving the impression that the document says what it does not say.
This chapter reveals the elements of rabbinical spin and challenges the intellectual legitimacy of the tradition that identifies all this commentary and inference with "what the Torah says."
Other chapters evaluate the personality and character of God (not so good) and the relevance of the Torah's laws to contemporary society (not much).
The concluding chapter discusses thepurpose of religion and argues that the secular humanistic view of the Torah is consonant with such humanistic virtues as dignity, intellectual integrity, courage, and the humanist's respect for science and reason, while the traditional attitude toward the Torah is a denial of these qualities.
The purpose of the book is to let readers know what the Torah really says, so that they can decide for themselves what its place should be in their lives.