Patricia Churchland & Neurophilosophy

6. Why does Patricia Churchland champion neurophilosophy? Be sure to substantiate your answer.

Patricia Churchland is a Canadian-American philosopher noted for her contributions to neurophilosophy and the philosophy of mind. (Wikipedia) The most common theme that is portrayed through her works is her belief that if we can understand the brain, then at some point we can understand the state of consciousness. This belief of “first understand the brain, then understand the mind” type of philosophy lead her to neurophilosophy.

Neurophilosophy can be defined in this clear definition as follows: Neurophilosophy or philosophy of neuroscience is the interdisciplinary study of neuroscience and philosophy. Work in this field is often separated into two distinct areas of interest. Neurophilosophy attempts to use empirical information from the neurosciences to address broader philosophical issues, including questions traditionally categorized under the philosophy of mind. The philosophy of neuroscience attempts to clarify neuroscientific methods and results using the conceptual rigor and methods of philosophy of science. Neurophilosophy explores the relevance of neuroscientific studies to arguments in philosophy of mind. Theories in neurophilosophy tend to stand in opposition to those of idealism, dualism, and functionalism, which seek to explain the mental with reference to minds and ideas, rather than the structure and function of the brain. (Wikipedia)

Simply put, it is using science and study of the brain, the structure and its functions, in order to fully understand our minds and consciousness. If we can understand all the molecules in the brain and its functions, then we can truly understand our consciousness.

While the issue of brain-mind is still open for debate without a clear-cut answer, from the perspective of neurophilosophy, an understanding of the philosophical applications of neuroscience discoveries is nevertheless relevant. Even if neuroscience will eventually discover that there no causal relationship between the brain and the mind, the mind would still remain to be correlated to the brain, and as such, neuroscience would still be relevant for the neurophilosophy. On the other hand, if neuroscience will eventually demonstrate a perfect overlap between brain and mind phenomena, neurophilosophy would become great new way of thinking for the study of the mind. Regardless of the how the connection between the brain and the mind turns out to be, it is important to note that neurophilosophy will definitely stay within the range of debate and discussion.

“It isn’t just one specific neuron that helps us feel pain, or love, or happiness, but a whole set of neurons interacting with each other creating the feelings and emotions inside the human mind.” (Patricia Churchland Interview) The real reason why she “champions” neurophilosophy is the very fact that she thinks outside the box and takes different approaches with normal philosophical ideas. One would never think to combine the study of the brain with consciousness, but because she is such a creative thinker, it is possible for her to come up with the idea of neurophilosophy. Because her different ways of thinking, she comes up with different ideas and uses a more scientific approach to philosophy, rather than asking the same questions as other philosophers do.