The Pragmatic Turn

This exciting book provides a coherent framework for an action-oriented view of cognition. By synthesizing recent advances with historical perspectives, it provides an exciting and often provocative perspective for those seeking to understand the workings of the brain.

Daniel Wolpert, Professor of Engineering, University of Cambridge

The Pragmatic Turn promises to be a landmark in the rapidly developing science of mind and human experience. Bringing together some of the brightest and the best in this rapidly changing field, Engel, Friston, and Kragic challenge us to rethink the place of action in theories of the mental. The pragmatic turn is one of the major shifts in thought about the mind in recent years; The Pragmatic Turn would serve scholars at all levels, and in a wide range of fields such as psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and philosophy, and is sure to be read and argued about for years to come.

Alva Noë, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, Berkeley, and the author, most recently, of Strange Tools: Art and Human Nature

This volume pushes the boundaries of cutting-edge work on the pragmatic turn. It is no mere collection of papers, but offers quality research from worldwide experts in a systematic and cohesive way.

Rick Grush, Professor of Philosophy, University of California, San Diego

Biological brains are devices for selecting the right action at the right time. Such an 'action-oriented' perspective has major implications for the shape and nature of a mature science of the embodied mind. This groundbreaking volume explores those implications from an impressive variety of disciplinary and interdisciplinary perspectives, including philosophy, robotics, and cognitive and computational neuroscience. A wonderful collection, and essential reading for everyone interested in contemporary thinking about mind and action.

Andy Clark FBA, FRSE, Professor of Logic and Metaphysics, University of Edinburgh