John Benjamins Publishing Company
Mind, Brain, and Chaos
Abstract
Most work in cognitive science, whether computationally or biologically based, relies on the idea of ‘unconscious representations.’ I argue that there are no such things. In contrast, conscious states do represent objects outside of the agent. My second main thesis concerns the ‘explanatory gap’ between brain states and mental states. I propose an analogy to enhance our understanding of just what is required to close the explanatory gap; I argue that a new science is needed. There is third main thesis, related to the second. Of all the currently available approaches to the study of brain activity, only nonlinear dynamics, chaos theory in particular, has a unique characteristic sufficient to close the explanatory gap. Every other approach to the study of the brain appears doomed to failure in this regard. Identification of an additional feature of chaotic systems provides the framework for the explanation of another conundrum, mental causation. Furthermore, given the chaotic model of the dynamics of perception arising from Walter J. Freeman’s work, it appears that emotion plays a central role in perception. The application of chaos theory to brain activity dovetails with my first thesis, as nonlinear dynamics does not require state transitions from representations to representations, yet it has the resources to account for the representational nature of conscious states.
Abstract
Most work in cognitive science, whether computationally or biologically based, relies on the idea of ‘unconscious representations.’ I argue that there are no such things. In contrast, conscious states do represent objects outside of the agent. My second main thesis concerns the ‘explanatory gap’ between brain states and mental states. I propose an analogy to enhance our understanding of just what is required to close the explanatory gap; I argue that a new science is needed. There is third main thesis, related to the second. Of all the currently available approaches to the study of brain activity, only nonlinear dynamics, chaos theory in particular, has a unique characteristic sufficient to close the explanatory gap. Every other approach to the study of the brain appears doomed to failure in this regard. Identification of an additional feature of chaotic systems provides the framework for the explanation of another conundrum, mental causation. Furthermore, given the chaotic model of the dynamics of perception arising from Walter J. Freeman’s work, it appears that emotion plays a central role in perception. The application of chaos theory to brain activity dovetails with my first thesis, as nonlinear dynamics does not require state transitions from representations to representations, yet it has the resources to account for the representational nature of conscious states.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of Contributors vii
- Introduction ix
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Part I
- Integrating the Physiological and Phenomenological Dimensions of Affect and Motivation 3
- Affective Consciousness and the Instinctual Motor System 27
- Consciousness, Motivation, and Emotion 55
- Conscious Emotion in a Dynamic System 91
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Part II
- The ‘Mind’/‘Body’ Problem and First-Person Process 109
- Dissolving Differences 119
- The Effect of Motivation on the Stream of Consciousness 133
- Motivation and Emotion 161
- Mind, Brain, and Chaos 179
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Part III
- Child Development and the Regulation of Affect and Cognition in Consciousness 205
- Emotions 223
- Awareness of Emotions 243
- Index 271
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of Contributors vii
- Introduction ix
-
Part I
- Integrating the Physiological and Phenomenological Dimensions of Affect and Motivation 3
- Affective Consciousness and the Instinctual Motor System 27
- Consciousness, Motivation, and Emotion 55
- Conscious Emotion in a Dynamic System 91
-
Part II
- The ‘Mind’/‘Body’ Problem and First-Person Process 109
- Dissolving Differences 119
- The Effect of Motivation on the Stream of Consciousness 133
- Motivation and Emotion 161
- Mind, Brain, and Chaos 179
-
Part III
- Child Development and the Regulation of Affect and Cognition in Consciousness 205
- Emotions 223
- Awareness of Emotions 243
- Index 271
