Brain-Wise : Studies in Neurophilosophy

by Patricia Smith Churchland

• ISBN13: 9780262532006
• ISBN10: 026253200X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-02
• Publisher: Bradford Books

Summary

Progress in the neurosciences is profoundly changing our conception of ourselves. Contrary to time-honored intuition, the mind turns out to be a complex of brain functions. And contrary to the wishful thinking of some philosophers, there is no stemming the revolutionary impact that brain research will have on our understanding of how the mind works. Brain-Wiseis the sequel to Patricia Smith Churchland's Neurophilosophy, the book that launched a subfield. In a clear, conversational manner, this book examines old questions about the nature of the mind within the new framework of the brain sciences. What, it asks, is the neurobiological basis of consciousness, the self, and free choice? How does the brain learn about the external world and about its own introspective world? What can neurophilosophy tell us about the basis and significance of religious and moral experiences? Drawing on results from research at the neuronal, neurochemical, system, and whole-brain levels, the book gives an up-to-date perspective on the state of neurophilosophy-what we know, what we do not know, and where things may go from here.

Author Biography

Patricia S. Churchland is President's Professor of Philosophy Emerita at the University of California, San Diego, and Adjunct Professor at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences. She is the author of many books, including Neurophilosophy and Brain-Wise (both published by the MIT Press).

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
Introduction	1	(34)
I Metaphysics	35	(204)
An Introduction to Metaphysics	37	(22)
Self and Self-Knowledge	59	(68)
Consciousness	127	(74)
Free Will	201	(38)
II Epistemology	239	(132)
An Introduction to Epistemology	241	(32)
How Do Brains Represent?	273	(48)
How Do Brains Learn?	321	(50)
III Religion	371	(32)
Religion and the Brain	373	(30)
Notes	403	(18)
References	421	(30)
Index	451