The Edge of Consciousness: How Neuroscience and Philosophy Define the Mind
Annabelle Craven
Georgia State University Repository January 21, 2026 DOI: 10.57709/g12n-h197 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that consciousness is best understood by combining neuroscience and philosophy, since the mind-body problem cannot be resolved through empirical research alone; cites Plato's view that the physical brain is separate from an apparently metaphysical soul and contends that the two disciplines are deeply intertwined. |
Abstract
How do we define our consciousness? Can we replicate human thinking in machines through artificial intelligence? Is it possible that consciousness is a spectrum? Like all of life’s mysteries, we research and experiment scientifically in search of answers to questions like these, but the idea of consciousness represents a fascinating connection between neuroscientific and philosophical theories. The struggle to define consciousness empirically through research is known as the mind-body problem, which explores the relationship between our inner thoughts and the biological processes that result from them. Philosophers such as Plato have long theorized that our physical brains are separate from our apparently metaphysical souls—but if that is the case, how do we prove it through experimentation? The nature of abstract philosophical thinking seems contradictory to the empirical nature of science; however, neuroscience and philosophy are deeply intertwined. Because of the complex nature of consciousness, we must examine it from both perspectives to truly understand some of life’s greatest mysteries.