Studying brains what could neurometaphysics be to NeurotechEU?

Jan Bransen; Freek Oude Maatman

doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1155547

Studying brains what could neurometaphysics be to NeurotechEU?

Front Neurosci. 2023 May 25:17:1155547. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1155547. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Jan Bransen^{1

2}, Freek Oude Maatman^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Philosophy Programme, Behavioural Science Institute, Faculty of Social Sciences, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
² Radboud Teaching and Learning Centre, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands.
³ Department of Philosophy, Groningen University, Groningen, Netherlands.

Abstract

NeurotechEU has introduced a new conceptual hierarchy for neuroscientific research and its applications along 8 different core research areas, including the so-called 'neurometaphysics'. This paper explores this concept of neurometaphysics, its topics and its potential approach. It warns against an endemic Cartesianism in (neuro)science that somehow seems to survive explicit refutations by implicitly persisting in our conceptual scheme. Two consequences of this persisting Cartesian legacy are discussed; the isolated brain assumption and the idea that activity requires identifiable neural 'decisions'. Neuropragmatism is introduced as offering the promise of progress in neurometaphysics, by emphasizing that (1) studying brains interact organically with their environment and (2) studying brains requires an attitude of continuous learning.

Keywords: Cartesianism; Dewey; continuous learning; metaphysics; neurometaphysics; neuropragmatism; relational ontology.