How Long to Read Did My Neurons Make Me Do It?

How Long Does it Take to Read Did My Neurons Make Me Do It??

It takes the average reader 5 hours and 54 minutes to read Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? by Nancey Murphy

Assuming a reading speed of 250 words per minute. Learn more

Description

If humans are purely physical, and if it is the brain that does the work formerly assigned to the mind or soul, then how can it fail to be the case that all of our thoughts and actions are determined by the laws of neurobiology? If this is the case, then free will, moral responsibility, and, indeed, reason itself would appear to be in jeopardy. Nancey Murphy and Warren S. Brown here defend a non-reductive version of physicalism whereby humans are (sometimes) the authors of their own thoughts and actions. Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? brings together insights from both philosophy and the cognitive neurosciences to defeat neurobiological reductionism. One resource is a 'post-Cartesian' account of mind as essentially embodied and constituted by action-feedback-evaluation-action loops in the environment, and 'scaffolded' by cultural resources. Another is a non-mysterious account of downward (mental) causation explained in terms of a complex, higher-order system exercising constraints on lower-level causal processes. These resources are intrinsically related: the embeddedness of brain events in action-feedback loops is the key to their mentality, and those broader systems have causal effects on the brain itself. With these resources Murphy and Brown take on two problems in philosophy of mind: a response to the charges that physicalists cannot account for the meaningfulness of language nor the causal efficacy of the mental qua mental. Solutions to these problems are a prerequisite to addressing the central problem of the book: how can biological organisms be free and morally responsible? The authors argue that the free-will problem is badly framed if it is put in terms of neurobiological determinism; the real issue is neurobiological reductionism. If it is indeed possible to make sense of the notion of downward causation, then the relevant question is whether humans exert downward causation over some of their own parts and processes. If all organisms do this to some extent, what needs to be added to this animalian flexibility to constitute free and responsible action? The keys are sophisticated language and hierarchically ordered cognitive processes allowing (mature) humans to evaluate their own actions, motives, goals, and rational and moral principles.

How long is Did My Neurons Make Me Do It??

Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? by Nancey Murphy is 352 pages long, and a total of 88,704 words.

This makes it 119% the length of the average book. It also has 108% more words than the average book.

How Long Does it Take to Read Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? Aloud?

The average oral reading speed is 183 words per minute. This means it takes 8 hours and 4 minutes to read Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? aloud.

What Reading Level is Did My Neurons Make Me Do It??

Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? is suitable for students ages 12 and up.

Note that there may be other factors that effect this rating besides length that are not factored in on this page. This may include things like complex language or sensitive topics not suitable for students of certain ages.

When deciding what to show young students always use your best judgement and consult a professional.

Where Can I Buy Did My Neurons Make Me Do It??

Did My Neurons Make Me Do It? by Nancey Murphy is sold by several retailers and bookshops. However, Read Time works with Amazon to provide an easier way to purchase books.

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