Picture of Patricia Churchland
Philosophers have been long engaged in the debate on the basis of consciousness. Some philosophers believe that consciousness has a more materialistic basis, while others believe in the contrary that consciousness has a non-physical basis. One philosopher, Patricia Churchland, believes that consciousness has a physical basis and supports that through her work that emphasizes incorporating neuroscience into philosophy.
Churchland has a highly materialist view of consciousness. She believes that consciousness is an emergent property of the brain's neural activity (Patricia Churchland, n.d.). According to Churchland, consciousness originates from brain states caused by neural processes that are associated with conscious experiences. Churchland promotes using empirical neuroscientific research to explain consciousness. She believes that by advancing brain science, researchers will be able to better understand the various aspects of consciousness (Patricia Churchland, n.d.). She also criticizes the idea of dualism, stating that such a view is unproductive from a scientific standpoint and that using strict science is a better approach (Patricia Churchland, n.d.).
Overall, Churchland's viewpoint has multiple implications for us as humans. For one, Churchland's view emphasizes that our ability to consciously experience the world is rooted in our biology, encouraging us to take care of our health to get the most out of the world around us. Additionally, her view may encourage us to take a more scientifically informed approach to conscious decision-making, and inform how we view our personal identity. Ultimately, Churchland's hard science perspective on consciousness encourages an objective approach to understanding our minds.
References:
Patricia Churchland. (n.d.). Retrieved August 19, 2024, from https://patriciachurchland.com/
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