History of Mind Research Unit

University of Helsinki
Headed by Academy Professor Simo Knuuttila
tel. +358 9 1912 3024 or simo.knuuttila@helsinki.fi

Centre of Excellence Homepage

The main focus of research at the History of Mind Research Unit is on theories of the structure and function of the human mind in Greek philosophy, mediaeval Arab and Latin philosophy and the philosophy of the Early Modern Age. Areas of special interest include conceptions of knowledge, comprehension and inference, self-consciousness, will and emotions as well as changes in the concepts and philosophical assumptions related to these themes. Key issues concern the distinction between body and soul, abilities of the mind, concepts of subject and object of mental attitudes, the concept of normalcy in connection with the analysis of cognitive attitudes, as well as conceptions of the normalcy and abnormalcy of mental conditions and mental disorders. Knowledge about the birth and development of concepts and conceptions related to the philosophy of the mind is an integral part of intellectual history, but it also helps us understand current philosophical problems.