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Brain, mind and limitations of a scientific theory of human consciousness
Author(s) -
Gierer Alfred
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.20743
Subject(s) - consciousness , neuropsychology , psychology , relation (database) , natural (archaeology) , cognitive science , epistemology , scientific theory , cognitive psychology , cognition , neuroscience , computer science , philosophy , archaeology , database , history
Abstract In biological terms, human consciousness appears as a feature associated with the functioning of the human brain. The corresponding activities of the neural network occur strictly in accord with physical laws; however, this fact does not necessarily imply that there can be a comprehensive scientific theory of consciousness, despite all the progress in neurobiology, neuropsychology and neurocomputation. Predictions of the extent to which such a theory may become possible vary widely in the scientific community. There are basic reasons—not only practical but also epistemological—why the brain–mind relation may never be fully “decodable” by general finite procedures. In particular self‐referential features of consciousness, such as self‐representations involved in strategic thought and dispositions, may not be resolvable in all their essential aspects by brain analysis. Assuming that such limitations exist, objective analysis by the methods of natural science cannot, in principle, fully encompass subjective, mental experience. BioEssays 30:499–505, 2008. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.