Framing the Mind-Body Problem in Contemporary Neuroscientific and Sunni Islamic Theological Discourse

Area of Science:

• Philosophy of Mind
• Neuroscience
• Islamic Theology
• Comparative Philosophy

Background:

• The mind-body problem, famously posed by René Descartes, persists as an unresolved issue in Western philosophy and science.
• Current models often remain entrenched in dualism, hindering progress in understanding consciousness and its relation to the physical body.
• There is a need for interdisciplinary approaches that incorporate diverse perspectives, including non-Western viewpoints, to reframe this enduring philosophical challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the potential of integrating contemporary neuroscientific, philosophy of mind, and Sunni Islamic theological discourses.
• To identify common ground and points of convergence between these distinct fields regarding the mind-body problem.
• To propose a reframed understanding of the mind-body problem through interdisciplinary dialogue.

Main Methods:

• Review and juxtaposition of key concepts and arguments from Western philosophy of mind, contemporary neuroscience, and Islamic theology concerning the soul and its relation to the body.
• Conceptual analysis to identify parallels and divergences between these discourses.
• Scholarly synthesis to propose a novel interdisciplinary framework.

Main Results:

• Islamic theology of the soul, while distinct, shares a substantive dualist position with some Western philosophical approaches.
• Contemporary neuroscience offers empirical data that can inform philosophical and theological discussions on the mind-body relationship.
• The dialogue reveals potential for a more comprehensive understanding by bridging empirical, philosophical, and theological insights.

Conclusions:

• Integrating neuroscientific, philosophical, and Islamic theological perspectives offers a promising avenue for reframing the mind-body problem.
• This interdisciplinary approach can move beyond persistent dualistic models by incorporating diverse conceptual frameworks.
• Further scholarly investigation and dialogue are encouraged to deepen the understanding of the mind-body-soul complex.