Brain and Self – A Neurophilosophical Account

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

Abstract

We have experience and are conscious of the world. Who, though, is conscious? This is the subject, or self, of experience. While in the past the concept of self has been a matter of philosophical discussion, psychoanalysis shifted it into the domain of psycholog y where it surfaced as ego. More recently, brain imaging allows researchers to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying our subjective experience of a self. This chapter focuses on discussing the different concepts of self as based on philosophical accounts. These are then complemented by neuroscientific data on the self and self-reference. Finally, both philosophical and neuroscientific accounts are directly compared to each other while at the same time their relevance for psychoanalysis of self and ego are pointed out.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationNew Approaches to the Scientific Study of Religion
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media B.V.
Pages227-246
Number of pages20
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Publication series

NameNew Approaches to the Scientific Study of Religion
Volume1
ISSN (Print)2367-3494
ISSN (Electronic)2367-3508

Keywords

  • Autobiographical Memory
  • Philosophical Concept
  • Posterior Cingulate Cortex
  • Ventral Striatum
  • Ventral Tegmental Area

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Religious studies
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Brain and Self – A Neurophilosophical Account'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this