The Hard Reduction Psychology and Neuroscience

Author

Caleb Kaufman

Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Bauer, Gordon

Keywords

Reductionism, Depression, Psychology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Philosophy

Area of Concentration

Biopsychology

Abstract

As theory from cognitive psychology and clinical psychology are being formally included under the auspice of neuroscience, the question of integration arises. Reductionism and the mind-body problem provide a framework from which to examine this question. Reductionism highlights particular problems in attempting to explain the mental, experiential content of psychology in terms of neurobiology, such that identity claims cannot yet be made. Nonetheless, attempts to explain, and explain away the mental experiential content of psychology make themselves evident in contemporary neuroscience. Interactionism, as a method, is a viable option which respects the irreducibility of the mental, while allowing productive research to continue.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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