The book explores central topics in developmental psychology from a philosophical perspective:
children's awareness of objects and the question of 'object permanence'
the nature and explanatory role of 'core knowledge'
evidence for innate drivers of language
children's knowledge of the relation between actions and goals
puzzles about when infants first have awareness of other minds
how social interaction explains the emergence of knowledge
Throughout the book, Stephen Butterfill draws on important case studies, including experiments with children on objects and their interactions, 'false belief tasks', and the process by which children come to see other people, not just themselves, as purposive agents. He shows how these questions can illuminate fundamental debates in philosophy of mind concerning the mind's architecture, the explanatory power of representation, the social character of knowledge, and the nature of metacognitive feelings.
Additional features, such as a glossary and extensive bibliographic references, provide helpful tools for those coming to the subject for the first time.
Share This Book: