About the series
Elements in Philosophy of Mind is part of Cambridge University Press’s wider Cambridge Elements project. The wider Elements series launched in 2019. I was invited to serve as founding editor of the Philosophy of Mind series, and the first volume was published in 2022.
The series provides concise (around 30,000 words) introductions to contemporary work in philosophy of mind. Each Element introduces its topic, surveys the major positions in the current literature, and, where appropriate, proposes new ideas and arguments from the author’s viewpoint. The volumes are designed for three audiences: advanced students and researchers in philosophy, psychology, and other branches of cognitive science; researchers from other disciplines who need an introduction to topics in the field; and interested general readers.
Published volumes address questions about consciousness, cognition, and mental life. Topics range from mental capacities—such as memory, attention, imagination, and agency—to research programmes including computationalism, embodied cognition, and Bayesian approaches to the mind. Recent volumes include work by Shaun Gallagher on enactive approaches to cognition, Hedda Hassel Mørch on panpsychism, Jane Suilin Lavelle on mental control and attention, David Over and Jonathan Evans on dual-process theories, and Janet Levin on the metaphysics of mind.
My vision for the series
When Cambridge University Press invited me to edit this series, I knew what I wanted to achieve. I wanted to meet the Elements remit—providing concise summaries of contemporary research as a resource for scholars and graduate students. But I wanted to do more.
I wanted to construe ‘philosophy of mind’ broadly, encompassing not just traditional philosophical problems but also theoretical and foundational issues in psychology, cognitive science, and AI. I wanted to commission volumes on all the major topics, debates, and research programmes in the area, so that the series would offer good coverage of the field. I wanted to recruit a diverse range of authors and ensure good representation of the women now working in what has been a traditionally male-dominated field. And I wanted the volumes to be accessible to as wide an audience as possible.
The series is organized around broad areas—either mental capacities (perception, agency, free will) or research programmes (computationalism, embodied cognition, Bayesian theories)—rather than narrower theoretical distinctions. The focus is on contemporary work rather than historical scholarship, though authors draw on historical material where relevant to current debates.
To realize this vision, I have taken a hands-on role as series editor. Beyond planning the series, corresponding with authors, overseeing the reviewing process, and making final decisions, I read each manuscript and offer suggestions on how to make it more accessible. This involves work, but it has been worth it. There are now twenty volumes in print, fifteen in preparation, and more planned.
Like the old blue-spined Pelican books that inspired me, I hope these volumes will help make knowledge real by sharing it widely—with specialists, students, and curious readers everywhere. You can read more about my vision for the series in this blog post for Cambridge Core.
Commissioning and unsolicited proposals
I am not soliciting proposals for the series. I have been commissioning volumes according to a plan designed to provide good coverage of the field and to maintain a balanced cohort of authors in terms of gender, career stage, and geographical location.
However, I do make exceptions if someone proposes a topic that fits well with the existing coverage. If you are interested in contributing to the series, you are welcome to contact me to inquire whether I would be interested in a volume on your proposed topic. Please keep the following points in mind:
- Check existing volumes first. Before approaching me, please review the published and forthcoming volumes to see if your topic is already covered.
- Initial inquiry only. Please do not prepare a full proposal initially. A brief inquiry describing your proposed topic is sufficient for me to assess whether it would fit the series.
- Remember the format. Elements are survey volumes, not short monographs. Each volume should provide a concise introduction to its research area, suitable for advanced students and scholars. Authors may offer a personal perspective as well, but this should be secondary to the survey function.
If your proposed topic appears promising, I will invite you to develop a full proposal for consideration.
