Neurophilosophy

Neurophilosophy is the interdisciplinary study of neuroscience and philosophy. Work in this field is often separated into two distinct methods. The first method attempts to solve problems in philosophy of mind with empirical information from the neurosciences. The second method attempts to clarify neuroscientific results using the conceptual rigor and methods of philosophy of science.

The pair of philosophers who have brought wide attention to this field (in both of these forms) are Patricia and Paul Churchland.

Neurophilosophy

Neurophilosophy explores the relevance of neuroscientific data to arguments in philosophy of mind. Prominent philosophers in this field are Daniel Dennett and David Chalmers. Neurophilosophy makes the claim that thought, knowledge, beliefs, and reasoning are functions of the brain and will eventually be explained in terms of neurons, synapses, and the details of human brain structure. This scientific approach contrasts strongly with idealism, and/or the appeal to the existence of a Platonic soul that thinks, feels and desires. Brain based materialist explanations such as the appreciation of color vision typify neurophilosophy, whereas other approaches may involve qualia or sense data being organized by an independent mind (Kant).

Philosophy of neuroscience

Philosophy of neuroscience aims to bring conceptual clarification to neuroscientific studies. In this respect, it is a subfield of philosophy of science. Prominent philosophers in this field are Valerie Hardcastle and William Bechtel.

See also

• Biophilosophy
• Cognitive neuroscience
• Eliminative materialism
• Materialism
• Multiple realisability
• Neuroethics
• Neurophenomenology
• Neuropsychology
• Philosophy of psychology
• Reduction
• Neurodiversity

External links

• Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry
• Philosophy and the Neurosciences Online Resources
• Immagini della Mente: interdisciplinary study group on Neurophilosophy (University of Milan)

Further reading

• Churchland, Patricia Smith (2002). Brain-Wise : Studies in Neurophilosophy. The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-53200-6.

• Churchland, Patricia Smith (1989). Neurophilosophy : Toward a Unified Science of the Mind-Brain. The MIT Press. ISBN 978-0-262-53085-9.

• Northoff, Georg (2004). Philosophy of the Brain: The brain problem. John Benjamins. ISBN 978-0-262-23214-2.

• Walter, Henrik (2001). Neurophilosophy of Free Will: From Libertarian Illusions to a Concept of Natural Autonomy. The MIT Press. ISBN 1-58811-417-1.