{"product_id":"the-brain-abstracted-isbn-9780262548045","title":"The Brain Abstracted","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWinner of the Nayef Al-Rodhan Book Prize from The Royal Institute of Philosophy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eWinner of the 2025 Lakatos Award from the London School of Economics and Political Science\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eAn exciting, new framework for interpreting the philosophical significance of neuroscience.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAll science needs to simplify, but when the object of research is something as complicated as the brain, this challenge can stretch the limits of scientific possibility. In fact, in \u003ci\u003eThe Brain Abstracted\u003c\/i\u003e, an avowedly “opinionated” history of neuroscience, M. Chirimuuta argues that, due to the brain’s complexity, neuroscientific theories have only captured partial truths—and “neurophilosophy” is unlikely to be achieved. Looking at the theory and practice of neuroscience, both past and present, Chirimuuta shows how the science has been shaped by the problem of brain complexity and the need, in science, to make things as simple as possible. From this history, Chirimuuta draws lessons for debates in philosophy of science over the limits and definition of science and in philosophy of mind over explanations of consciousness and the mind-body problem.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Brain Abstracted\u003c\/i\u003e is the product of a historical rupture that has become visible in the twenty-first century, between the “classical” scientific approach, which seeks simple, intelligible principles underlying the manifest complexity of nature, and a data-driven engineering approach, which dispenses with the search for elegant, explanatory laws and models. In the space created by this rupture, Chirimuuta finds grounds for theoretical and practical humility. Her aim in \u003ci\u003eThe Brain Abstracted\u003c\/i\u003e is not to reform neuroscience, or offer advice to neuroscientists, but rather to interpret their work—and to suggest a new framework for interpreting the philosophical significance of neuroscience.Preface ix\u003cbr\u003e Acknowledgments xi\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart I 1\u003cbr\u003e 1 Introduction 3\u003cbr\u003e 2 Footholds 35\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart II 63\u003cbr\u003e 3 The Reflex Theory: Misleading Simplicity in Early Neuroscience 65\u003cbr\u003e 4 Your Brain Is Like a Computer 91\u003cbr\u003e 5 Ideal Patterns and “Simple” Cells 119\u003cbr\u003e 6 Why  “Neural  Repre sen ta tions”? 149\u003cbr\u003e 7 The Heraclitean Brain 183\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePart III 207\u003cbr\u003e 8 Prediction, Comprehension, and the Limits of Science 209\u003cbr\u003e 9 Revisiting the Fallacy of Misplaced Concreteness 245\u003cbr\u003e 10 Cartesian Idealization 277\u003cbr\u003e References 309\u003cbr\u003e Index 355“Mazviita Chirimuuta’s \u003ci\u003eThe Brain Abstracted\u003c\/i\u003e is a landmark work in the philosophy of neuroscience . . . It gives a fresh take on long-running debates about neural representation, computation, and functionalism, while also advancing the state of play within general philosophy of science. In short, it is an impressive book that is sure to shape discussion in the field for years to come.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBJPS Review of Books\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e“Chirimuuta’s thoughtful treatment is a salutary reminder that substantive philosophical conclusions can rarely be read off from scientific theories. More challengingly, \u003ci\u003eThe Brain Abstracted\u003c\/i\u003e mounts an unusually scientifically well-informed argument for the autonomy of philosophical inquiries about the mind from the findings of neuroscience.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—Nicholas Shea, Professor, Institute of Philosophy, University of London\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Chirimuuta provides a fiercely intelligent and indeed thrilling take down of many of the sins of simplification that dominate current neuroscience. This book is an effortlessly original standout, and it could not be timelier.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e—John W. Krakauer, John C. Malone Professor, Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; External Professor, The Santa Fe Institute\u003c\/b\u003eOriginally trained in visual neuroscience, M. Chirimuuta writes on the central ideas of the mind\/brain sciences. She is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh and the author of \u003ci\u003eOutside Color\u003c\/i\u003e (MIT Press).","brand":"The MIT Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46300025749733,"sku":"NP9780262548045","price":50.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780262548045.jpg?v=1767738519","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/the-brain-abstracted-isbn-9780262548045","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}