Neuroepistemology
Neuroepistemology is an empirical approach to epistemology—the study of knowledge in a general, philosophical sense—which is informed by modern neuroscience, especially the study of the structure and operation of the brain involving neural networks and neuronal epistemology.[1] Philosopher Patricia Churchland has written about the topic and, in her book Brain-Wise, characterised the problem as "how meat knows".[2] Georg Northoff, in his Philosophy of the Brain, wrote that it "focuses on direct linkage between the brain on one hand and epistemic abilities and inabilities on the other."[3]
Assumptive framework
[edit]The postmodernist Menachem Mazabow wrote that it "is necessary... to state the set of assumptions that are seen as fundamental to any neuro-epistemological inquiry."[4] These include:
- The significance of revealing the suppositions which influence one’s behavior (the self-reflexive connection between meaning and behavior).
- The larger socio-politico-historical contextual effects on one’s individual assumptions.
- The power relations deeply rooted in the dominant discourses in a field and their overpowering effect on different modes of thought.
- The unavoidably context-dependent and subjective nature of all concepts, compared to objective systems of validity.
- The importance of examining embedded assumptions and of concentrating on the association between idea and context.
- The affirmation that appropriate theorizing is a certainty of our nature as language observers and directing theorists in the direction of improving awareness of their fundamental responsibility.
- The assertion that the concept of efficacy, instead of objective validity should be the fulcrum in the evaluation of theory.
Application
[edit]Brown has noted the "tacit bias" in any observation, which is rooted in "assumptions on the nature of mind" that shape the research,[5] and for Hanlan and Brown, theory does not arise from data alone.[6] Crick has stated that it is impossible to pursue a difficult programme of research in neuroscience without some preconceived ideas, seen as inevitable by Churchland.[7][8] Stein, Brailowsky and Will have opined that such preconceptions about the central nervous system have tended to hamper research in certain areas.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Zambrano, Yuri (2012). Neuroepistemology: What the neurons knowledge tries to tell us. Physik'a Publishing, Co. p. 529. ISBN 9781300086703.
- ^ Patricia Smith Churchland (2002). "Epistemology". Brain-Wise: Studies in Neurophilosophy. The MIT Press. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-262-03301-5.
- ^ Georg Northoff (2004). Philosophy of the Brain: The Brain Problem. John Benjamins Publishing. p. 208. ISBN 9781588114174.
- ^ Mazabow, Menachem; Alban Burke; Anita Stuart (2004). "Neuro-epistemology: A Post-modernist Analysis of the Neuro-sciences". Health SA Gesondheid. p. 57.
- ^ Brown, JB (1990). "Preliminaries for a theory of mind". Goldberg, E ed.1990: Contemporary Neuropsychology: The Legacy of Luria.
- ^ Hanlan, ER & Brown, JW. (1989). "Micro-genesis: Historical review and current studies". Ardila, A & Ostrosky, S eds Brain organization of language and cognitive processes.
- ^ Crick, F. (1994). "The astonishing hypothesis: The scientific search for the soul". New York: Simon & Schuster.
- ^ Churchland, PS. (1986). "Neurophilosophy: Toward a unified science of the mind-brain". Cambridge: MIT Press.
- ^ Stein, DG; Brailowsky, S. & Will, B. (1995). "Brain repair". Oxford University Press.
