Abstract
In this chapter we discuss the historical origins and conceptual debts of the theory of mind paradigm (ToMism).1 We argue that this paradigm should be thought of as a model of communication. We find that ToMism has roots in Noam Chomsky’s psychology, and Paul Grice’s work on meaning. It is based on their ideas, inherits some of their problems but adds little new. What is new in ToMism in fact makes matters worse by profoundly intellectualizing social interactions. We find that it inherits and tries to solve the Cartesian ‘problem of other minds’. Not surprisingly, it fails to solve this unsolvable problem.
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© 2009 Ivan Leudar and Alan Costall
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Leudar, I., Costall, A. (2009). On the Historical Antecedents of the Theory of Mind Paradigm. In: Leudar, I., Costall, A. (eds) Against Theory of Mind. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230234383_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9780230234383_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-230-55274-6
Online ISBN: 978-0-230-23438-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Social & Cultural Studies CollectionSocial Sciences (R0)