Scott Sturgeon is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham. He has published numerous articles in journals such as Mind, Journal of Philosophy, Noûs, Philosophers' Imprint, and Philosophy and Phenomenological Research. He is the author of Matters of Mind: Consciousness, Reason and Nature (Routledge 2001).
Solutions to many puzzles about conditionally revising beliefs add to this book's value for epistemology and philosophical psychology. Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty * J. R. Shook, University of Buffalo, CHOICE * Illuminating book * Ram Neta, Philosophical Studies * Sturgeon patiently explains the basic concepts, models, and philosophical motivations concerning two important areas in formal epistemology: Bayesian epistemology and rational belief revision. But the book is more than an introduction. Sturgeon offers insightful critique about the philosophical assumptions and significance of work in the two areas. He also defends a brand new metaphysical picture of cognitive states that aims to unify the current division between coarse-grained and fine-grained cognitive states. . . . there is no doubt that this book would serve as an excellent textbook in formal epistemology; and researchers in formal epistemology will surely benefit from the book's intricate discussion of the philosophical motivations and significance of formal models, as well as its brand new, force-based picture of cognitive states. * Ru Ye, Mind * The Rational Mind ranges over a broad landscape of topics, problems and concepts, drawing links between different areas and offering, as Sturgeon aimed, a 'deep and pleasing vision' over the whole. * Anna Mahtani, Journal of Philosophy *