The Brain Abstracted
The Brain Abstracted: Simplification in the History and Philosophy of Neuroscience
English | 2024 | ISBN: 0262548046 | 377 Pages | PDF (True) | 2.3 MB
English | 2024 | ISBN: 0262548046 | 377 Pages | PDF (True) | 2.3 MB
All science needs to simplify, but when the object of research is something as complicated as the brain, this challenge can stretch the limits of scientific possibility. In fact, in The Brain Abstracted, an avowedly “opinionated” history of neuroscience, M. Chirimuuta argues that, due to the brain’s complexity, neuroscientific theories have only captured partial truths—and “neurophilosophy” is unlikely to be achieved. Looking at the theory and practice of neuroscience, both past and present, Chirimuuta shows how the science has been shaped by the problem of brain complexity and the need, in science, to make things as simple as possible. From this history, Chirimuuta draws lessons for debates in philosophy of science over the limits and definition of science and in philosophy of mind over explanations of consciousness and the mind-body problem.