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The Concept of Mind in Contemporary Philosophy

Alexander I. Muss

2021 DOI: 10.21146/0042-8744-2021-2-100-106 (opens in new tab)

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AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Theoretical or philosophical paper
Topics Philosophy of mind
Key points Argues that analytic-scientific and continental-humanistic approaches to mind and consciousness each carry distinct opportunities and limitations, and that this makes a theoretical synthesis necessary, while noting that attempts such as neurophenomenology face methodological limitations.

Abstract

This article studies the concept of mind, problems of consciousness, and its solu­tions through opportunities and limitations of the continental and analytical phi­losophy in contemporary science and humanities. This research shows that, on the one hand, analytical and scientific perspective shows mind and conscious­ness as a methodological concrete process that could be divided into separate components. Moreover, each component has a specific function and localization. As a result, this perspective allows to computer simulation and various applica­tions. However, a variety of definitions leads to certain confusion, as well as the inability to relate the individual experience to these concrete theoretical models. On the other hand, continental philosophy and humanities provide a large amount of material about the individual mind and consciousness. However, this complete individual picture complicates the generalizations and also forbids the search for universal laws and its application. As a result, both opportunities and limitations of contemporary philosophical traditions allow the necessary of the theoretical synthesis. Moreover, studying the concept of mind through prob­lems of mind and consciousness shows that isolated solutions could be ineffec­tive. However, the important question here is how such a synthesis can be car­ried out, since modern attempts, for example, neurophenomenology, meets methodological limitations studied in this article.