The subjective brain, identity, and neuroethics.
The human brain is subjective and reflects the life of a being-in-the-world-with-others whose identity reflects that complex engaged reality. Human subjectivity is shaped and in-formed (formed by inner processes) that are adapted to the human life-world and embody meaning and the relatedness of a human being. Questions of identity relate to this complex and dynamic reality to reflect the fact that biology, human ecology, culture, and one's historic-political situation are inscribed in one's neural network and have configured its architecture so that it is a unique and irreplaceable phenomenon. So much is a human individual a relational being whose own understanding and ownership of his or her life is both situated and distinctive that neurophilosophical conceptions of identity and human activity that neglect these features of our being are quite inadequate to ground a robust neuroethics.
Gillett
Grant R
GR
University of Otago, Gt. King Street, Dunedin, New Zealand. grant.gillett@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
D001364:Awareness; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003243:Consciousness; D003704:Dementia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D019222:Mind-Body Relations, Metaphysical; D009014:Morals; D033262:Narration; D009415:Nerve Net; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000941:ethics; D018458:Persistent Vegetative State / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D028723:Personhood; D011603:Psychophysiology; D011612:Psychosurgery / Q000941:ethics*; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012933:Social Identification; D013850:Thinking; D014836:Volition