从形式因理解神经科学动力学模型的底层逻辑

Understanding the Underlying Logic of Neuroscientific Dynamics Models from Formal Causes

亚里士多德将事物变化的原因分为了质料因、形式因、动力因和目的因,而现代科学认为世界上只有一种由能量和力驱动的动力因果关系。亚里士多德因果观与现代因果观截然不同。但泰伦斯·迪肯认为这种处理事物发生变化的原因的方式表明:可以部分地调和亚里士多德的多元因果观与现代因果观,将形式因做一种全新的解读,为理解神经科学中的动力学模型提供了一种更合理的视角。

Aristotle divided the causes of things changing into material,formal,efficient,and purpose causes,while modern science sees only one type of dynamic causation in the world,driven by energy and force.The Aristotelian view of cause and effect is very different from the modern view of cause and effect,but Terrence Deacon argues that this way of dealing with the reasons why things change suggests that it is possible to partially reconcile Aristotle’s pluralistic view of cause and effect with the modern view of cause and effect,putting a new interpretation on formal cause that provides a more reasonable perspective for understanding the dynamical model in neuroscience.