1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910882892803321

Autore

Bennett M. R.

Titolo

The Representational Fallacy in Neuroscience and Psychology : A Critical Analysis / / by Maxwell R Bennett, Peter M S Hacker

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer Nature Switzerland : , : Imprint : Palgrave Macmillan, , 2024

ISBN

9783031575594

3031575598

Edizione

[1st ed. 2024.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (92 pages)

Disciplina

153

Soggetti

Philosophy of mind

Psychology, Experimental

Neurosciences

Cognitive science

Philosophy of Mind

Experimental Psychology

Neuroscience

Cognitive Science

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

1. The Varieties of Conceptions of Representation -- 2. The Early History of Representations in Experimental Psychology -- 3. The Early History of Neural Representations.

Sommario/riassunto

This book traces the history and coherence of the use of the word ‘representations’ from its origins, particularly in the description of artefacts, to its use in the description of so-called mental and neural representations in the mind and in the brain. It is shown that there are no good reasons for this transition. Experimental psychology is confused in taking what one perceives to be a mental representation. Neuroscientists need to avoid moving readily between the notions of neural and mental representations; indeed even the logic of taking a pattern of neural activity as standing for some sensibly experienced characteristic requires elucidation. It is concluded that the word ‘representation’ when used in experimental psychology and cognitive



neuroscience is confounding. Maxwell R Bennett is Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience and held the first University Chair for ‘research recognized internationally to be of exceptional distinction’ at the University of Sydney. This research is on the biophysics and neurobiology of synapses. He is the author and c0-author of over 300 papers as well as of thirteen books on the neuroscience, history and philosophy of this subject. In the last twenty years he founded The Brain and Mind Research Institute, as well as The Mind & Neuroscience Thompson Institute, each concerned with ameliorating mental illness. Peter Hacker is Emeritus Fellow of St John's College, Oxford and holds an Honorary Professorship at University College, London at the Institute of Neurology. He is a leading authority on the philosophy of Wittgenstein, has written extensively on philosophy and neuroscience, philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of human nature. He is author and co-author of more than twenty-five books.