Acknowledgments

Throughout the construction of this book, I learned fi rsthand that philosophy

and the academic world, in general, are social enterprises. I could not

have completed this book without so many helpful and rigorous people.

George Terzis, the director of my doctoral dissertation and philosophical

mentor at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, was most helpful

and most rigorous. The amount of time, energy, care, wisdom, and concern

he gave to me will never be forgotten. He is a true philosopher, a scholar,

and a gentleman.

I spent as much time discussing this project with Brian Cameron. I have

heard it said that, during one’s graduate career, a person learns most about

his or her particular discipline from a fellow graduate student. Other than

Dr. Terzis, I owe the majority of my philosophical formation to Brian

Cameron, who, besides having one of the keenest analytical minds, probably

was the most critical of my project every step of the way. I thank him

for these criticisms and have tried responding to many of them in this

book.

Another friend of knowing is Kevin Decker, who got me to thinking

about issues in naturalism and evolution in the fi rst place. What wisdom

in me that was not gained from Dr. Terzis and Brian, I received from

Kevin.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of my project, I have tried to make

sure that all of the information in this book is accurate. Other top-notch

philosophers, neuroscientists, biologists, and psychologists at Saint Louis

University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri—St.

Louis, and Southwest Minnesota State University took the time out of their

busy schedules to look over earlier versions of this book and give me comments.

They include Kent Staley, Richard Blackwell, Scott Berman, Michael

Ariel, Jerry Morrissey, Charles Granger, Corey Butler, and Scott Peterson.

In particular, I have learned a lot from Dr. Staley’s comments and have

tried to address many of his criticisms in this book. Also, Scott Berman

was infl uential in getting me to think more deeply about the realism/

antirealism debate.

I had fruitful conversations and correspondences with other thinkers and

researchers about parts of my project as well, including Carl Craver, Charles

Anderson, Jaakko Hintikka, James Maffi e, Eric LaRock, Robert Wood, and

Thomas Young.

I hand drew all of the illustrations in this book and, with the kind help

of a computer graphic designer in St. Louis named Chuck Hart, was able

to convert them into electronic format.

With his calming demeanor, Tom Stone, Philosophy Acquisitions Editor

at MIT Press, was a relaxing infl uence for me during the book-writing

process, and I thank him for believing in the project in the fi rst place. I

also want to acknowledge the dedication of referees, copy editors, proofreaders,

copy setters, and other folks in the publication process who work

for MIT.

I would like to thank Kim Sterelny, Anthony Freeman, Vincent Colapietro,

Raymond Russ, and other editors of the following journals for the

permissions to utilize sections of my previously published work in this

book: Biology & Philosophy, Journal of Consciousness Studies, Journal of Mind

and Behavior, Journal for General Philosophy of Science, Journal of Speculative

Philosophy, Journal of Critical Realism, American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly,

History of Philosophy Quarterly, International Philosophical Quarterly, and

Hobbes Studies. Also, the reader can fi nd the appropriate references to these

journals under “Arp” in the References section of the book.

Finally, my wife, Susan Marie Arp, has looked over parts of my work and

has given me comments to think about throughout this project (including

my very fi rst substantial criticism). I have the most profound respect for

her, she continues to be my anchor, and I dedicate all of my projects

to her.

Throughout the construction of this book, I learned fi rsthand that philosophy

and the academic world, in general, are social enterprises. I could not

have completed this book without so many helpful and rigorous people.

George Terzis, the director of my doctoral dissertation and philosophical

mentor at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri, was most helpful

and most rigorous. The amount of time, energy, care, wisdom, and concern

he gave to me will never be forgotten. He is a true philosopher, a scholar,

and a gentleman.

I spent as much time discussing this project with Brian Cameron. I have

heard it said that, during one’s graduate career, a person learns most about

his or her particular discipline from a fellow graduate student. Other than

Dr. Terzis, I owe the majority of my philosophical formation to Brian

Cameron, who, besides having one of the keenest analytical minds, probably

was the most critical of my project every step of the way. I thank him

for these criticisms and have tried responding to many of them in this

book.

Another friend of knowing is Kevin Decker, who got me to thinking

about issues in naturalism and evolution in the fi rst place. What wisdom

in me that was not gained from Dr. Terzis and Brian, I received from

Kevin.

Given the interdisciplinary nature of my project, I have tried to make

sure that all of the information in this book is accurate. Other top-notch

philosophers, neuroscientists, biologists, and psychologists at Saint Louis

University, Washington University in St. Louis, University of Missouri—St.

Louis, and Southwest Minnesota State University took the time out of their

busy schedules to look over earlier versions of this book and give me comments.

They include Kent Staley, Richard Blackwell, Scott Berman, Michael

Ariel, Jerry Morrissey, Charles Granger, Corey Butler, and Scott Peterson.

In particular, I have learned a lot from Dr. Staley’s comments and have

tried to address many of his criticisms in this book. Also, Scott Berman

was infl uential in getting me to think more deeply about the realism/

antirealism debate.

I had fruitful conversations and correspondences with other thinkers and

researchers about parts of my project as well, including Carl Craver, Charles

Anderson, Jaakko Hintikka, James Maffi e, Eric LaRock, Robert Wood, and

Thomas Young.

I hand drew all of the illustrations in this book and, with the kind help

of a computer graphic designer in St. Louis named Chuck Hart, was able

to convert them into electronic format.

With his calming demeanor, Tom Stone, Philosophy Acquisitions Editor

at MIT Press, was a relaxing infl uence for me during the book-writing

process, and I thank him for believing in the project in the fi rst place. I

also want to acknowledge the dedication of referees, copy editors, proofreaders,

copy setters, and other folks in the publication process who work

for MIT.

I would like to thank Kim Sterelny, Anthony Freeman, Vincent Colapietro,

Raymond Russ, and other editors of the following journals for the

permissions to utilize sections of my previously published work in this

book: Biology & Philosophy, Journal of Consciousness Studies, Journal of Mind

and Behavior, Journal for General Philosophy of Science, Journal of Speculative

Philosophy, Journal of Critical Realism, American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly,

History of Philosophy Quarterly, International Philosophical Quarterly, and

Hobbes Studies. Also, the reader can fi nd the appropriate references to these

journals under “Arp” in the References section of the book.

Finally, my wife, Susan Marie Arp, has looked over parts of my work and

has given me comments to think about throughout this project (including

my very fi rst substantial criticism). I have the most profound respect for

her, she continues to be my anchor, and I dedicate all of my projects

to her.