The Peripheral Mind: Philosophy of Mind and the Peripheral Nervous SystemThe Peripheral Mind introduces a novel approach to a wide range of issues in the philosophy of mind by shifting the focus of analysis from the brain to the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS). Contemporary philosophy of mind has neglected the potential significance of the PNS and has implicitly assumed that, ultimately, sensory and perceptual experience comes together in the brain. István Aranyosi proposes a philosophical hypothesis according to which peripheral processes are considered as constitutive of sensory states rather than merely as causal contributors to them. Part of the motivation for the project is explained in the autobiographical opening chapter, which describes the author's subjective experiences with severe peripheral nerve damage. Although Aranyosi's approach could be classified as part of the current "embodied mind" paradigm in the philosophy of mind and cognitive neuroscience, this is the first time that notions like "embodiment" and "body" in general are replaced by the more focused concept of the PNS. Aranyosi puts the hypothesis to the test and offers novel solutions to puzzles related to physicalism, functionalism, mental content, embodiment, the extended mind hypothesis, tactile-proprioceptive illusions, as well as to some problems in neuroethics, such as abortion and requests for amputation of healthy body parts. The diversity of the volume's methodology--which results from a combination of conceptual analysis, discussion of neuroscientific data, philosophical speculation, and first-person phenomenological accounts--makes the book both engaging and highly informative. |
Contents
1 | |
Part I Minds and Nerves | 17 |
Part II Bounds of Mind | 75 |
Part III Mind Embodied | 121 |
Part IV Mind and Ethics | 173 |
References | 208 |
221 | |
225 | |
Other editions - View all
The Peripheral Mind: Philosophy of Mind and the Peripheral Nervous System István Aranyosi Limited preview - 2013 |
The Peripheral Mind: Philosophy of Mind and the Peripheral Nervous System István Aranyosi No preview available - 2013 |
Common terms and phrases
activity actually amputation apotemnophilia approach argue argument arthritis aware behavior belief BIID brain causal Chalmers chapter claim cognitive processes cognitive science component concept connection conscious consider constitutive cortex cortical count counterfactual discussion disembodied embodied empirical enactivism example extended mind external fact feel fetus fibers function G-cones hence idea identity illusion instance interoception intuition involves issue John’s kitten limb liquid located meaning mental morally motor muscle namely nervous system neural neuroethics neuroscience Noë notebook notion object one’s one’s body Otto’s pain patients perception peripheral nerve person phantom limb phenomenal phenomenologically philosophers philosophy of mind problem properties proprioceptive Putnam question quote relevant retina role self-consciousness semantic externalism sensation sense sensorimotor sensory stimulation Stinky subjects supposed tactile Tetris theory thesis thick potential thought experiment tion touch Twin Earth visual visual percept zombie