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Course: Wireless Philosophy > Unit 7
Lesson 1: IntroductionUnit introduction
This introduction provides an overview of the philosophical questions that will be explored in this unit on Neurophilosophy.
Neuroscientists are rapidly expanding the frontiers of our understanding of the brain. But how much can these advances in neuroscience teach us about the human mind, consciousness, emotion, and thought? In this module, we explore the complex relationship between neuroscience and philosophy, examine influential philosophical arguments concerning the relationship between the mind and the brain, and dive into a few recent discussions in neuroscience to understand their philosophical significance.
By the end of this unit, you will be able to:
- Explain the relationship between neuroscience and philosophy.
- Consider how our understanding of neuroscience enables us to understand the minds of non-human animals.
- Define the notion of consciousness, and explain different ways of conceiving its relation to neuroscience.
- Explore the possibility that neuroscientific understanding may one day supplant our folk psychology.
- Evaluate the claim that there is a set of basic emotions rooted in brain structures.
- Assess the neuroscientific claim that fear is a function of the amygdala.