Abstract

What is the mind? Mental fictionalism offers an exciting and provocative new approach to this question. Its central idea is that mental states (thoughts, beliefs, desires) are useful fictions. When we talk about mental states, we should be seen as merely speaking ‘as if’ humans (and perhaps other creatures or even artefacts) had such states, in order to make sense of their behaviour. This Element is unique in presenting three versions of mental fictionalism in a single volume (prefix, pretence, and affective mental fictionalism), written by three of the most prominent proponents of each approach. The Element pits the different varieties of mental fictionalism against each other, allowing the reader to size them up. In the process, it offers a fresh perspective on foundational matters in the philosophy of mind, such as the nature of mental states, the role of folk psychology, and the relationship between mind and material culture.