Book review: A volume for the thoughtful reader. How the Mind Works. Steven Pinker. W.W. Norton & Company, New York. 1997. No. of pages 660. ISBN 0-393-04535-8. Price US$29.95.
✍ Scribed by Ami L. Barile
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1999
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 56 KB
- Volume
- 13
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0888-4080
No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.
✦ Synopsis
In How the mind works Pinker synthesizes a collection of research and ideas from various disciplines under two main topics: the computational theory of mind and the theory of natural selection. Many of these ideas have been with us for some time, but Pinker's style of presentation give them a breath of fresh air. He presents these ideas in an energetic and witty style.
Does he answer the question of how the mind works? Admittedly, no. However, Pinker does seem to suggest that we are close enough to start drawing conclusions because, he claims, many phenomena that were once regarded as mysteries' can now be thought of as problems'. But his assessment of what can now be considered a problem rather than a mystery is too optimistic. There are still too many mysteries of the mind that prevent us from truly understanding how it works.
The book fails in answering `how' for another reason. His ®rst topic, computational theory of mind, explains how the mind works in terms of thinking as computation. This theory addresses issues such as the nature of mental processing and the structure of the mind; and so, falls within the scope of the book's title. However, the second topic, the theory of natural selection, gives an evolutionary explanation for human behaviours. As a cognitive psychologist, explanation of human behaviour via evolutionary psychology tells us why the mind works the way it does, not how the mind works. Thus, two-thirds of the book addresses why, not how.
Allowing for Pinker's stretch in his title and the topics he covers, a particularly bothersome aspect of the book deals with the presentation of the material. The problem is not one of accuracy. Each idea presented in the book is an accurate depiction of other's ideas. The problem is that the presentation appears to be in the form of undisputed ideas re¯ecting the general consensus of the psychological community. The author explains, in the preface, that his purpose is to present a number of ideas that he believes oers insight into issues of the mind. Yet in the text, he presents the material as if it is the consensus of the psychological community by failing to present thorough criticisms to the ideas he promotes.
For example, Pinker argues that our mind is made up of many modules. Modules are mechanisms or organs (in Pinker's terms) in the mind that have a speci®c purpose. Each module is responsible for a particular aspect of human behaviour. Empirically, there does seem to be support for modularity in some distinct mental operations such as perceptual processes. However, it is also reasonable to argue that much of our cognitive processes are non-modular (Fodor, 1990). For one reason, modular arguments usually run aground when it comes time to distinguish among the various modules our minds supposedly possess. In spite of diculties in establishing speci®c modules, Pinker provides the reader with his own `inventory' of modules including topics covering modes of thought and attitudes towards others. Once again, there is little indication to the reader as to the consensus regarding his list.
Another example of the author's single-sided approach is Pinker's attempt to explain all of human behaviour in terms of natural selection. Pinker uses the sel®sh gene' idea to explain behaviours ranging from perceptual processes to family values. There is even a chapter, entitled The Meaning of Life', that provides an evolutionary explanation for activities such as art, music, and humour. Opposition to the evolutionary perspective only appears to be represented within the book by what closer inspection reveal to be straw men.
Concern about the slanted presentation is warranted given the readership that Pinker wishes to reach. In the preface, Pinker explains that he hopes to reach the thoughtful layperson. The