为何物理主义难以解释心灵问题?——对埃德尔曼意识理论的批判

Why is it Difficult for Physicalism to Explain Mind? Criticism of Edelman’s Theory of Consciousness

在心灵哲学内,物理主义长期占据着一席之地。作为物理主义代表性人物之一的埃德尔曼坚信,所有的心灵问题都可以从人脑内神经元之间的相互作用过程中找到解答的方法。在坚持物理假设、进化假设和主观特性假设基础上,埃德尔曼提出了神经元群选择理论、动态核心和再进入等极具说服力的意识理论。然而,埃德尔曼的意识理论不仅没有解释清楚意识困难问题、意向性难题、自由意志问题,而且还面临着认知科学的严峻挑战,甚至其所采取的还原论方法也有明显的缺陷。所以,物理主义仍然难以解释清楚心灵问题。而要突破物理主义的局限,我们需要在物理主义方法之外寻找一种融合第一人称和第三人称的综合性研究方法。神经现象学、神经哲学、自然主义二元论则为寻找这种方法提供了理论参考。

In the philosophy of mind,physicalism has occupied a place for a long time.Edelman,one of the representatives of physicalism,firmly believes that all mental problems can be solved through the interaction between neurons in the human brain.On the basis of insisting on physical hypothesis,evolutionary hypothesis and subjective characteristic hypothesis,Edelman put forward some persuasive consciousness theories,such as the theory of neuronal group selection theory,dynamic core theory and reentry theory etc.However,after the analysis of them,we believe that Edelman’s theory of consciousness not only fails to explain clearly the hard problem of consciousness,intentionality and free will,but also faces the severe challenge of cognitive science.Even the approach of reductionist adopted by Edelman has obvious defects.Therefore,physicalism is still difficult to explain clearly the mind.To break through the limitations of physicalism,we need to find a comprehensive research method that combines the first person and the third person,while the neurophenomenology,neuro-philosophy and dualism of naturalism provide a theoretical reference for us to find this method.