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[Consciousness and self-consciousness as biological phenomena]
1Neurochirurgische Klinik, Kantonsspital St. Gallen.
Schweizerische Rundschau Fur Medizin Praxis = Revue Suisse De Medecine Praxis
|February 22, 1994
Summary
Consciousness and the mind-body problem are scientifically insoluble due to the mind's intrinsic mystery. This challenges neurophysiological and philosophical investigations into self-consciousness and its place in nature.
Area of Science:
- Philosophy of Mind
- Neuroscience
- Epistemology
Context:
- Consciousness is central to the mind-body problem, engaging humanistic, naturalistic, psychological, theological, and physiological thought.
- Recent neurophysiological and philosophical interest seeks to place consciousness and self-consciousness within the natural order.
Purpose:
- To explore the possibility of a universally accepted account of consciousness.
- To investigate the inherent limitations of scientific and philosophical inquiry into the nature of the mind.
Summary:
- The paper argues that consciousness and the mind-body problem are fundamentally insoluble due to the mind's intrinsic inscrutability.
- This perspective, supported by epistemology and historical physiological thought, suggests consciousness defies rational scientific and philosophical investigation.
- Neuroscientific research is not deemed unfeasible but is examined for its methodological and cognitive boundaries.
Impact:
- Challenges the scope of current scientific and philosophical methodologies in understanding consciousness.
- Highlights the persistent mystery of the mind, suggesting inherent limits to human understanding.
- Re-frames the mind-body problem as potentially beyond empirical resolution, impacting future research directions.