After interpretation: Roy Harris on mind and knowledge

Two recent books on the nature of mind and knowledge by Roy Harris—Mindboggling (2008) and After Epistemology (2009)—are examined. We discern some inconsistencies in Harris’s appeals to ‘the mental’ throughout Mindboggling. In our view the strengths of the two books by Roy Harris under discussion here lie more in their criticisms than in the passages where he offers his alternatives.

► Harris’s focus on telementation leads him to overlook many other sources of confusions. ► Harris is ambivalent about the ’concept of mind’ but frequently employs the adjective ’mental’. ► We discern some inconsistencies in Harris’s appeals to ’the mental’ throughout recent publications. ► The strengths of Mind Boggling and After Epistemology lie more in their criticisms than in the alternatives presented.