Philosophy of Neuroscience

Description

This Element provides a comprehensive introduction to philosophy of neuroscience. It covers such topics as how neuroscientists procure knowledge, including not just research techniques but the use of various model organisms. It presents examples of knowledge acquired in neuroscience that are then employed to discuss more philosophical topics such as the nature of explanations developed in neuroscience, the different conception of levels employed in discussions of neuroscience, and the invocation of representations in neuroscience explanations. The text emphasizes the importance of brain processes beyond those in the neocortex and then explores what makes processing in neocortex different. It consider the view that the nervous system consists of control mechanisms and considers arguments for hierarchical vs. heterarchical organization of control mechanisms. It concludes by considering implications of findings in neuroscience for how humans conceive of themselves and practices such as embracing norms.

William Bechtel is Professor and Chair of Philosophy and Director of the Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology Program at Washington University in St. Louis. He is editor of the international journal Philosophical Psychology and his publications include A Companion to Cognitive Science (co-edited, Blackwell, 1998), Connectionism and the Mind (co-authored, second edition, Blackwell, 2002) and Discovering Complexity (1993). Pete Mandik is Assistant Professor and Associate Director fo the Cognitive Science Laboratory at William Patterson University of New Jersey Jennifer Mundale is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Central Florida University. Robert S. Stufflebeam is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of New Orleans.

"William Bechtel and his colleagues have set about creating a genuine teaching aid." Journal of Consciousness Studies "The first of its kind, Philosophy and the Neurosciences is sure to find an eager audience in neuroscience and philosophy. Under the encyclopedic and judicious guidance of Bill Bechtel, the editors have assembled a genuinely useful collection, provided insightful introductions to each section, and included a sample of groundbreaking papers from the history of neuroscience." Patricia Smith Churchland, University of California, San Diego "The philosophy of neuroscience finally has a good teaching text. This nicely edited collection is a collage of classic and contemporary papers by neuroscientists and some solid, yet innovative philosophy." Peter Machamer, University of Pittsburgh