The Brain RevolutionYour brain is a

The Brain Revolution
Your brain is a mass of cells inside your skull and weighs around 1.4 kilograms, or 3 pounds.
Common sense insists that your mind, with all its amazing powers of thinking and feeling, cannot just
be your brain. The contrary belief that minds are souls is firmly held by the large majority of people
who belong to theistic religions, and by many philosophers since Plato and Descartes. They allow
that the mind may be closely associated with the body and especially with the brain, but insist that
mind and brain are not the same because they have different properties. Your brain has mass, consists
of matter and energy, and ceases to function when you die; whereas your soul weighs nothing, is not
subject to physical laws, and survives your death. Most people today are dualists, believing that a
person consists of both a spiritual mind and a physical body.
In contrast, most psychologists and neuroscientists are materialists and believe that minds are
brains: the mind is what the brain does. General acceptance of this view would amount to the most
radical conceptual revolution in the history of human thinking. Previously, the two most sweeping
scientific revolutions were Copernicus's rejection of Ptolemy's view that the earth is the center of the
universe, and Darwin's rejection of the religious view that humans were specially created by God.
According to modern astronomy, the earth is just another planet circling the sun, which is just one of
billions of stars in billions of galaxies. According to Darwin, humans are just another biological
species evolved through natural selection. The Brain Revolution now in progress is even more
threatening to humans' natural desire to think of ourselves as special, for it implies that our treasured
thoughts and feelings are just another biological process. Unsurprisingly, even some nonreligious
thinkers find disturbing the view that minds are brains, despite mounting evidence for such
identification. Not only immortality but also highly compelling doctrines of free will and moral
responsibility have been tied to the idea of minds as souls. The lure of dualism is powerful.
This chapter will argue that the hypothesis that minds are brains has far more explanatory power
than does its main competing hypothesis that minds are souls. Later I will also consider two
prominent materialist views that resist identifying minds with brains: the functionalist view that minds
can be processes in many different physical systems, and the embodiment view that minds are states
of the whole body. I think that neither of these views contradicts my main claim that human minds are
brains, which is, however, radically incompatible with the commonsense view that minds are not
physical objects.
Philosophers call the claim that states and processes of the mind are identical to states and
processes of the brain the identity theory. Mind-brain identification follows a long line of theoretical
identifications that have marked scientific progress: sounds are waves; combustion is chemical
combination with oxygen; water is H2O; heat is motion of molecules; lightning is electrical discharge;
light is electromagnetic energy; influenza is a viral infection; and so on. Each of these identities is
part of a larger theory that was accepted because it provided a better explanation of the relevant
evidence than did competing theories. Similarly, I will argue that the claim that minds are brains is
part of a rich theory that provides explanations for many mental phenomena, including perception,
memory, learning, inference, and emotion. Once this identification is established, we can consider the
radical implications for traditional philosophical questions about reality, knowledge, morality, and
personal meaning. Eventually, we will be able to learn from the neural processes that underlie love,
work, and play why they are such important realms of human life.
Evidence That Minds Are Brains
We believe that water is H2O and that lightning is an atmospheric electrical discharge because these
identifications are parts of accepted theories with substantial explanatory power. The connection
between lightning and electricity was first noticed in 1746 when the Dutch physicist Peter van
Musschenbroek developed the Leyden jar as a way of storing static electricity. Benjamin Franklin's
famous kite experiment in 1752 provided the first direct evidence that lightning is a discharge of
electricity. This hypothesis explained not only why sparks flew from the key that Franklin had
attached to the kite he flew in a thunderstorm, but also a broad array of observations about lightning,
such as its bright flashes, its production of loud sounds, and its ability to injure people. Demonstrating
that minds are brains is more complicated but is based on the same kind of reasoning, providing a
large array of evidence for which this hypothesis is part of the best explanation.
How Brains Explain
It was not always obvious that brains have much to do with thinking. Aristotle believed that the
primary organ supporting thought was the heart rather than the brain, whose main function was to cool
the blood. By the sixteenth century, however, rough connections between the brain and thinking were
generally recognized—for example, that vision and hearing depend on brain anatomy. Understanding
of how brains work began only at the end of the nineteenth century when the development of new
chemical techniques for staining cells made possible identification of the cells that constitute brains.
It was decades before the electrical nature of brain cells—neurons—was appreciated. Only with the
development of computers did it become possible to formulate and test detailed hypotheses about
how the interactions among large numbers of neurons might be able to support different kinds of
thinking.
When the psychologist Stephen Pinker was on the TV show The Colbert Report in 2007, Stephen
Colbert insisted that he explain, in five words or fewer, how the brain works. Pinker's brilliantly
concise response was “Brain cells fire in patterns.” Neurons are different from the cells that make up
other bodily organs in that they build up electrical charges; they can pass these on to other neurons
that are connected to them. Firing is a kind of electrical discharge. The flow of electrical charge in
neurons is only a few millivolts, compared to as much as a billion in lightning flashes, and also
differs in being directed along pathways formed by the thousand or so connections that a neuron has
with other neurons. These connections are called synapses. Figure 3.1 depicts how one neuron can
send messages in the form of electric signals to another neuron by means of synaptic connections.

ผลลัพธ์ (อังกฤษ) 2:

The Brain Revolution
Your Brain is a mass of cells Inside your Skull and weighs 1.4 kilograms Around, or 3 pounds.
Common Sense insists that your Mind, with all its powers of thinking and Feeling Amazing, Can not just
be your Brain. The contrary is firmly held belief that Minds are Souls by the Large majority of people
Who Belong to theistic religions, and by many philosophers Plato and Descartes since. Allow they
that be closely associated with the May the Mind Body and especially with the Brain, but insist that
the Same Mind and Brain are not because they have different properties. Your Brain has mass, consists
of Matter and Energy, and ceases to function when You Die; Nothing weighs whereas your Soul, is not
subject to physical Laws, and your survives Death. Most people today are Dualists, believing that a
person consists of both a physical and a Spiritual Mind Body.
In contrast, psychologists and neuroscientists are materialists and Believe Most Minds that are
Brains: the Mind is what does the Brain. Acceptance of this general would amount to View the Most
radical conceptual revolution in the History of Human thinking. Previously, the Two Most sweeping
Scientific Revolutions were Copernicus's rejection of Ptolemy's View that the Earth is the Center of the
Universe, and Darwin's rejection of the religious View that Humans were specially Created by God.
According to Modern astronomy, the Earth is just another Planet. circling the Sun, which is just one of
Billions of Billions of stars in galaxies. According to Darwin, Humans are just another Biological
species Evolved Through Natural selection. The Brain Revolution in Progress is now even more
threatening to Humans' Natural Desire to Think of Ourselves as special, for it implies that our treasured
Thoughts and Feelings are just another Biological Process. Unsurprisingly, Some even nonreligious
thinkers Find Disturbing the View that are Brains Minds, Despite Mounting Evidence for such
Identification. Immortality not only free but also highly compelling doctrines of moral Will and
Responsibility have been tied to the Idea of Minds as Souls. The lure of dualism is powerful.
This Chapter Will argue that the hypothesis that Brains has Minds are explanatory Power Far more
than does its Main competing hypothesis that Minds are Souls. Will also consider later I Two
prominent Materialist Views that resist Identifying Minds with Brains: View that the functionalist Minds
Can be in many different physical processes Systems, and the embodiment View Minds that are States
of the whole Body. I Think that neither of these Views contradicts My Main claim that Human Minds are
Brains, which is, however, Radically incompatible with the commonsense View that Minds are not
physical Objects.
Philosophers Call the claim that States and processes of the Mind are identical to States. and
the processes of the Brain Identity Theory. Mind-Brain Identification follows a long line of theoretical
Identifications that have Marked Scientific Progress: Waves sounds are; Combustion is Chemical
combination with Oxygen; water is H2O; heat is motion of molecules; Electrical discharge is lightning;
Light is electromagnetic Energy; influenza is a viral infection; and so on. Each of these identities is
Part of a larger Theory that was accepted because it provided a better explanation of the relevant
Evidence did than competing theories. Similarly, I argue that the claim that Will Minds are Brains is
Part of a Theory that provides rich Mental Explanations for many phenomena, including perception,
memory, Learning, inference, and Emotion. Identification once this is established, we Can consider the
radical implications for traditional philosophical questions About Reality, Knowledge, Morality, and
Personal meaning. Eventually, we Will be Able to Learn from the neural processes that underlie Love,
Work, and Play why they are such important realms of Human Life.
Evidence That Minds Are Brains
We Believe that Water is H2O and that lightning is an Atmospheric Electrical discharge because. these
are Identifications Parts of accepted theories with substantial explanatory Power. The Connection
between lightning and First Electricity was noticed in one thousand seven hundred and forty-six when the Dutch physicist Peter Van
Leyden jar the Musschenbroek developed as a Way of storing static Electricity. Benjamin Franklin's
Kite Famous experiment in 1752 provided in the First Direct Evidence that lightning is a discharge of
Electricity. This hypothesis expLAineD not only why Sparks flew from the Key that Franklin had
attached to the Kite He flew in a thunderstorm, but also a Broad array of observations About lightning,
such as its Bright flashes, its Production of Loud sounds, and its ability to. injure people. Demonstrating
that Minds are Brains is more complicated but is based on the Same Kind of reasoning, providing a
Large array of Evidence for which this hypothesis is Part of the Best explanation.
How Brains Explain
It was not always Obvious that Brains have much to do with. thinking. Aristotle believed that the
primary thought was the Heart organ supporting rather than the Brain, whose function was to Main cool
the Blood. By the sixteenth Century, however, the Rough Connections between Brain and thinking were
generally recognized-for example, that Vision and Hearing Depend on Brain Anatomy. Understanding
of How Brains Work began only at the End of the nineteenth Century when the Development of New
Techniques for staining cells Made possible Chemical Identification of the cells that constitute Brains.
It was decades before the nature of Electrical Brain cells-neurons-was appreciated. Only with the
Development of Computers did Become possible to Formulate and Test detailed hypotheses About
How the interactions among Large Numbers of neurons Might be Able to Support different kinds of
thinking.
When the Psychologist Stephen Pinker was on the TV Show The Colbert Report in 2,007th. , Stephen
Colbert insisted that He Explain, in Five Words or fewer, How the Brain Works. Pinker's brilliantly
concise response was "Brain cells in Fire Patterns." Neurons are different from the cells that Make up
Other Bodily organs in that they Electrical Build up charges; Can they Pass these on to Other neurons
that are Connected to them. Firing is a kind of electrical discharge. Electrical charge in the flow of
neurons is only a few millivolts, compared to as much as a billion lightning flashes in, and also
differs in being directed along pathways formed by the thousand or so that a Neuron has Connections
with Other neurons. These connections are called synapses. How depicts one figure 3.1 Neuron Can
Send Messages in the form of Electric Signals to another by means of synaptic Neuron Connections.

ผลลัพธ์ (อังกฤษ) 3:

The Brain Revolution
Your brain is a mass of cells inside your skull and weighs around 1.4 kilograms or 3, pounds.
Common. Sense insists that, your mind with all its amazing powers of thinking, and feeling cannot just
be your brain. The contrary. Belief that minds are souls is firmly held by the large majority of people
who belong to, theistic religionsAnd by many philosophers since Plato and Descartes. They allow
that the mind may be closely associated with the body and. Especially with the brain but insist, that
mind and brain are not the same because they have different properties. Your. Brain, has mass consists
of matter and energy and ceases, to function when you die; whereas your soul, weighs nothing is. Not
subject to, physical lawsAnd survives your death. Most people today, are dualists believing that a
person consists of both a spiritual mind and. A physical body.
In contrast most psychologists, and neuroscientists are materialists and believe that minds are
brains:? The mind is what the brain does. General acceptance of this view would amount to the most
radical conceptual revolution. In the history of human thinking.Previously the two, most sweeping
scientific revolutions were Copernicus' s rejection of Ptolemy 's view that the earth is. The center of the
universe and, Darwin 's rejection of the religious view that humans were specially created by God.
According. To modern astronomy the earth, is just another planet circling, the sun which is just one of
billions of stars in billions. Of galaxies.According, to Darwin humans are just another biological
species evolved through natural selection. The Brain Revolution. Now in progress is even more
threatening to humans' natural desire to think of ourselves, as special for it implies that. Our treasured
thoughts and feelings are just another biological process. Unsurprisingly even some, nonreligious
.Thinkers find disturbing the view that minds, are brains despite mounting evidence for such
identification. Not only immortality. But also highly compelling doctrines of free will and moral
responsibility have been tied to the idea of minds as, souls. The lure of dualism is powerful.
This chapter will argue that the hypothesis that minds are brains has far more explanatory. Power
.Than does its main competing hypothesis that minds are souls. Later I will also consider two
prominent materialist views. That resist identifying minds with brains: the functionalist view that minds
can be processes in many different physical. Systems and the, embodiment view that minds are states
of the whole body. I think that neither of these views contradicts. My main claim that human minds are
.,,, brains which is however radically incompatible with the commonsense view that minds are not
physical objects.
Philosophers. Call the claim that states and processes of the mind are identical to States and
processes of the brain the identity, theory. Mind-brain identification follows a long line of theoretical
identifications that have marked scientific progress: sounds. Are waves;Combustion is chemical
combination with oxygen; water is H2O; heat is motion of molecules; lightning is electrical discharge;
light. Is electromagnetic energy; influenza is a viral infection; and so on. Each of these identities is
part of a larger theory. That was accepted because it provided a better explanation of the relevant
evidence than did competing, Similarly theories.I will argue that the claim that minds are brains is
part of a rich theory that provides explanations for many, mental phenomena. Including perception
memory,,,, learning inference and emotion. Once this identification is established we can, consider. The
radical implications for traditional philosophical questions about,,, reality knowledge morality and
personal meaning.? Eventually.We will be able to learn from the neural processes that underlie love
work, and play, why they are such important realms. Of human life.
Evidence That Minds Are Brains
We believe that water is H2O and that lightning is an atmospheric electrical. Discharge because these
identifications are parts of accepted theories with substantial explanatory power. The connection
.Between lightning and electricity was first noticed in 1746 when the Dutch physicist Peter van
Musschenbroek developed. The Leyden jar as a way of storing static electricity. Benjamin Franklin 's
famous kite experiment in 1752 provided the first. Direct evidence that lightning is a discharge of
electricity. This hypothesis explained not only why sparks flew from the. Key that Franklin had
.Attached to the kite he flew in, a thunderstorm but also a broad array of observations about lightning
such, as its bright. Flashes its production, of, loud sounds and its ability to injure people. Demonstrating
that minds are brains is more complicated. But is based on the same kind, of reasoning providing a
large array of evidence for which this hypothesis is part of the. Best explanation.
.How Brains Explain
It was not always obvious that brains have much to do with thinking. Aristotle believed that the
primary. Organ supporting thought was the heart rather than the brain whose main, function was to cool
the blood. By the sixteenth. ,, century however rough connections between the brain and thinking were
generally recognized - example for,That vision and hearing depend on brain anatomy. Understanding
of how brains work began only at the end of the nineteenth. Century when the development of new
Chemical Techniques for staining cells made possible identification of the cells that. Constitute brains.
It was decades before the electrical nature of brain cells neurons - - was appreciated. Only with the
.Development of computers did it become possible to formulate and test detailed hypotheses about
how the interactions among. Large numbers of neurons might be able to support different kinds of
.
thinking When the psychologist Stephen Pinker was. On the TV show The Colbert Report, in 2007 Stephen
Colbert insisted that he explain in five, words or fewer how the, brain. Works. Pinker 's brilliantly
.Concise response was "Brain cells fire in patterns." Neurons are different from the cells that make up
other bodily organs. In that they build up electrical charges; they can pass these on to other neurons
that are connected to them. Firing is. A kind of electrical discharge. The flow of electrical charge in
neurons is only a few millivolts compared to, as much as. A billion in, lightning flashes