Neural Theories of Mind: Why the Mind-Brain

In this fascinating book, William R. Uttal raises the possibility that, however much we learn about the anatomy and physiology of the brain and psychology, we may never be able to cross the final bridge explaining how the mind is produced by the brain. Three main classes of mind-brain theory are considered and rejected: field theories, because they are based on a superficial analogy; single cell theories, because they emerge from a massive uncontrolled experimental program; and neural net theories, because they are constrained by combinatorial complexity. To support his argument, Uttal explores the empirical and conceptual foundations of these theoretical approaches and identifies flaws in their fundamental logic. The author concludes that the problems preventing solution of the mind-brain problem are intractable, yet well within the confines of natural science.

William R. Uttal is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Michigan and Professor Emeritus of Engineering at Arizona State University.

Preface

xi

I. An Introduction to the Concept of Theory

1

(49)

1.1 Questions Pertaining to Cognitive Neuroscientific Theories

1

(3)

1.2 Traditional Definitions of Theory

4

(11)

1.3 Some Steps Toward a More Complete Conceptualization of Theory

15

(2)

1.4 Types of Theories

17

(21)

1.5 Some Big Questions

38

(12)

2 Mind and Brain Before the Modern Cognitive Neuroscience Era

50

(49)

2.1 Introduction

50

(2)

2.2 The Earliest Greek Natural Science

52

(6)

2.3 The Post-Milesian Development of Greek Science

58

(13)

2.4 Natural Science Theory During the Roman Epoch

71

(8)

2.5 The Renaissance

79

(9)

2.6 The Beginnings of Modern Neuroscience

88

(7)

2.7 Summary

95

(4)

3 The Limits of Cognitive Neuroscience Theory—An Epistemological Interlude

99

(15)

3.1 Prelude

99

(3)

3.2 On the Limits of Theory Building and Theory

102

(3)

3.3 An Analysis of Some Contemporary Thought

105

(4)

3.4 On Supernatural Substitutes for Scientific Theory

109

(1)

3.5 Verification and Refutation

110

(4)

4 Field Theories-Do What You Can Do When You Can't Do What You Should Do!

114

(38)

4.1 Introduction

114

(5)

4.2 Gestalt Field Theory

119

(4)

4.3 Pribram's Holographic Field Theory

123

(2)

4.4 John's Statistical Theory

125

(2)

4.5 Freeman's Mass Action Theory

127

(3)

4.6 McFadden's CEMI Field Theory

130

(3)

4.7 Lehar's Harmonic Resonance Theory

133

(2)

4.8 Quantum Field Theories of Mind

135

(8)

4.9 Fourier Field Theory

143

(4)

4.10 Summary and Conclusions

147

(5)

5 Single Neuron Theories of the Mind-The Undue Influence of a Point in Space

152

(43)

5.1 Introduction

152

(21)

5.2 The History of Single Neuron Theories of the Mind

173

(13)

5.3 Counterarguments

186

(6)

5.4 Summary

192

(3)

6 Network Theories-Truth Denied

195

(51)

6.1 Introduction

195

(5)

6.2 The Origins of Neural Network Theory

200

(1)

6.3 Pitts and McCulloch's Prototypical Neuronal Net

201

(3)

6.4 Hebb and the Cell Assembly

204

(4)

6.5 Rosenblatt and the Perceptron

208

(5)

6.6 The Next Generation of Neural Network Theoreticians

213

(11)

6.7 A Nonneural "Network" Theory-Connectionism

224

(8)

6.8 Mathematical Arguments for the Intractability of Neural Networks

232

(11)

6.9 An Interim Summary

243

(3)

7 Summary and Conclusions

246

(18)

7.1 Introduction

246

(1)

7.2 Other Approaches

246

(2)

7.3 The Standards for a Sound Theory

248

(6)

7.4 Some General Sources of Theoretical Misdirection

254

(5)

7.5 Some Barriers to Solving the Mind-Brain Problem

259

(3)

7.6 A Future Course of Action

262

(2)

References

264

(13)

Author Index

277

(6)

Subject Index

283

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Neural Theories of Mind: Why the Mind-Brain Problem May Never Be Solved

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials