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An Argument for Mind | 
| Author: Jerome Kagan
Publisher: Yale University Press
Category: Book
List Price: $17.00
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Avg. Customer Rating:  4 reviews
Sales Rank: 476702
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.7 x 0.9
ISBN: 0300126034
Dewey Decimal Number: 150.9045
EAN: 9780300126037
ASIN: 0300126034
Publication Date: October 28, 2007
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Product Description
In this elegantly written book, Jerome Kagan melds the history of the field of psychology during the past 50 years with the story of his own research efforts of the same period and an analysis of what he terms “the currently rocky romance between psychology and biology.” As Kagan unwinds his own history, he reveals the seminal events that have shaped his career and discusses how his assumptions have changed. With full appreciation for the contributions to psychology of history, philosophy, literature, and neuroscience, he approaches a wide range of fascinating topics, including:
the abandonment of orthodox forms of behaviorism and psychoanalysis
the forces that inspired later-twentieth-century curiosity about young children
why B. F. Skinner chose to study psychology
why the study of science less often ignites imaginations today
our society’s obsession with erotic love
the resurgence of religious fanaticism and the religious Right
Embedded in Kagan’s discussions is a rejection of the current notion that a mature neuroscience will eventually replace psychology. He argues that a complete understanding of brain is not synonymous with a full explanation of mind, and he concludes with a brief prediction of the next five decades in the field of psychology.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Don't let the title misguide you November 8, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
It would have been more appropriate if Mr Kagan would have called his book "A collection of reflections". If you expect a meaningfull contribution to the "Theory of Mind" you will probably be disappointed.
Why do psychologists have to be so dumb about "mind"? December 21, 2006
1 out of 10 found this review helpful
As a fellow psychologist, I can't help but think that my esteemed (properly so) colleague Jerry Fodor is showing in this book how the emperor (psychology) is going about without any clothes. He is trying to place "mind" more squarely into psychologists' minds; and that's certainly to the good. But what is so obvious through these pages is how psychologists are so lacking in any kind of philosophical sophistication. Sure, psychology is to be a science; it is to turn its back on this most ancient and fuzzy of intellectual endeavors. But my lord, philosophers - - and there have been some who are pretty bright - - have been addressing the issues of mind and consciousness for centuries! Do we have to ignore them? Do we have to begin at square one with statements like "there are four kinds of consciousness" after philosophers have been involved in studying consciousness and mind, thoroughly, some through their lifetimes? Have you heard of Husserl's phenomenological reduction? If there are four kinds of consciousness in your reckoning of today (and that's sure to change tomorrow), does this include your reckoning itself? - - that's also in your consciousness, is it not? After all, all your thoughts, ideas, conclusions, perceptions, "objects" are in your consciousness, right? - - or you wouldn't be conscious of them, wouldn't in any way "have" them. So what are we to make of this fact? Does it bring us into solipsism? Guess what - - philosophers have been addressing this issue for years. They have been as concerned as we about such an unacceptable conclusion.
No use in taking refuge here in facts/measurement/research/science. No use in trying to "objectify" consciousness and mind so that we can study them dispassionately. Our objectification itself is a mental act, and whatever its products - - facts, measurements, etc. - - are in our consciousness as well. Furthermore, anything you say or try to advance on us may or may not take form in our minds in just the same way you are intending.
Isn't it time we stopped being naive and started considering the inescapability of mind? And isn't it time for psychologists to step out of their willful ignorance and begin to do a little catching up on what their sister (yes, nonscientific) disciplines have done? We could start with Kant's Copernican revolution.
So we can stop embarrassing ourselves.
 From Behaviorism to fMRI July 25, 2006
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
Harvard developmental psychologist Jerome Kagan mixes his autobiographical memoirs with a history of the last 50 years of psychology. He has been in the middle of the nature/nurture debate since the behaviorists faded out, specializing in the temperament of the newborn. Kagan was and still is involved in what has been a very public controversy with attachment theorists. He has contributed significantly to the realization that genetic influences cannot be denied, but can be significantly altered by environment.
He had significant controversy with Judith Rich Harris in the late 90's as a result of her popular book, "The Nurture Assumption." Despite their publicized clashes in written and video format, they both emphasized genetic influence and criticized attachment theory - but Harris minimized (and still does) the importance of family, replacing it with peer group influences. Kagan continues to defend the influence of the family in forming adult personality.
He is not much for evolutionary psychology and its reliance on game theory, natural selection, and sexual selection - as they relate to theory of personality. Nor does he believe EP is helpful in explaining our seemingly innate attraction to religion - despite recent books relating EP to religion by Atran, Boyer, and Dennett. He believes people are motivated more by personal moral standards, and is disappointed by what he interprets as our recent cultural and moral decline. He further suggests that society can't expect much help from science in ethical matters.
To Kagan, the brain and the mind are not equivalent and he provides stunning evidence for the difference between physical states and psychological states. He believes that the opposing camps studying the mind/brain will eventually split psychology into two factions - the reductionist, neurobiological faction and the other more sociocultural.
The best part of this very personal book is his research on infant temperament as it relates to adult personality. Written with penetrating clarity for the layman, "An Argument For Mind" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in developmental psychology and neuroscience.
A 'Must Read' for new psychology students and current practitioners! May 11, 2006
3 out of 8 found this review helpful
Found his book 'Handbook of Child Psychology' rich with fascinating information. Chapter on Human Morality asks then answers some fantastic questions. This book is even more rewarding! Dr. Kagan has written, spoke on and taught many topics in psychology, and in this book he reviews some perspectives or approaches in the field, as well as some predictions and recommendations for the future. Well worth reading for the new psychology student or current practitioner.
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