Neurophilosophy

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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.

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

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.