A Brief History of the Soul

This book is a clear and concise history of the soul in western philosophy, from Plato to cutting-edge contemporary work in philosophy of mind.- Packed with arguments for and against a range of different, historically significant philosophies of the soul- Addresses the essential issues, including mind-body interaction, the causal closure of the physical world, and the philosophical implications of the brain sciences for the soul's existence- Includes coverage of theories from key figures, such as Plato, Aquinas, Locke, Hume, and Descartes- Unique in combining the history of ideas and the development of a powerful case for a non-reductionist, non-materialist account of the soul

Stewart Goetz is Ross Frederick Wicks Distinguished Professor in Philosophy and Religion at Ursinus College. Charles Taliaferro is Professor of Philosophy at St. Olaf College.