Analogies, Non-reductionism and Illusions

This commentary focuses on three aspects of Sandro Nannini’s paper Time and Consciusness in Cognitive Naturalism: (1) the parallel between Einstein’s theory of relativity and the new science of the mind/brain; (2) the Cartesian characterization of non-reductionist positions in the philosophy of mind; (3) the alleged illusory status of consciousness, free will and the Self. We suggest, first, that Nannini overstates the success of cognitive neuroscience; second, that non-reductionism is not necessarily a Cartesian position; and third, that the neurocognitive science data do not show or even suggest, that consciousness, free will and the Self are illusory phenomena