Failing to See the Irony in ‘Mind-Reading’

Abstract

We are puzzled by Szilvia Papp's response to the recent Special Issue of Theory & Psychology devoted to critiques of and alternatives to Theory of Mind. Although Papp is a linguist with a special interest not only in Theory of Mind but also in ‘Relevance Theory’, we can find no reference in her response to the critical issues raised in the Special Issue, nor any defence of the dualist metaphysics behind Theory of Mind. Instead, she presents us with a further demonstration that if one starts from dualistic premises, then one does indeed end up with something along the lines of Theory of Mind with its resort to ‘mind-reading’.

Keywords

dualism inference Relevance Theory Theory of Mind

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