Minding the Brain

Georg Northoff is Professor in the Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Philosophy at the University of Ottawa Institute of Mental Health Research, Canada. His neuroscientific research focuses on self and consciousness using brain imaging, and he is also one of the leading forces behind the development of neurophilosophy and its application in psychiatry and philosophy. Recent major works include a two volume book on theory of brain function including coding (Volume I) and consciousness (Volume II).

"This will be essential reading for anyone interested in the nature of consciousness. It is wonderful to see an accomplished neuroscientist and philosopher craft such a comprehensive, and sorely needed, account of this interdisciplinary topic." - Jakob Hohwy, Philosophy & Cognition Lab, Monash University, Australia "With great clarity and panache, Northoff abstracts the history of consciousness and the biology of mind into crystal clear arguments that all students of philosophy and neuroscience will appreciate. This superb text will become a treasured resource for all who wish to understand both historical and future trajectories of reasoning about our mental apparatus." - Jaak Panksepp, Professor of Neuroscience and Baily Endowed Chair of Animal Well-Being Science, Washington State University, USA "Minding the Brain is a very rich work of original synthesis and integration. In clear and inspired prose Northoff guides the reader through some of the hottest issues in cognitive neuroscience and philosophy of mind. A must read." - Vittorio Gallese MD, Professor of Physiology, Department of Neuroscience, University of Parma, Italy

• IntroductionPART I: MIND AND BRAIN FROM PHILOSOPHY THROUGH NEUROSCIENCE TO NEUROPHILOSOPHY 1. Philosophy and the Mind Philosophy of Mind and Phenomenology2. Philosophy and Science Naturalism3. Mind, Brain and Science Psychology and Neuroscience4. Brain and Philosophy NeurophilosophyPART II: MIND-BRAIN PROBLEM FROM PHILOSOPHY OF MIND TO PHILOSOPHY OF BRAIN5. Mental Approaches to the Mind-brain Problem6. Physical and Functional Approaches to the Mind-brain Problem7. Non-mental and Non-physical Approaches to the Mind-brain Problem8. Brain-based Approaches to the Mind-brain ProblemPART III: PHILOSOPHY OF PSYCHOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE FROM EXPLANATION OF MIND TO EXPLANATION OF BRAIN9. Philosophy of Psychology Personal Versus Subpersonal Levels of Explanation10. Philosophy of Psychology Mind and Meaning11. Philosophy of Neuroscience Explanations, Concepts, and Observer in Neuroscience12. Philosophy of Brain Characterization of the BrainPART IV: NEUROPHILOSOPHY OF CONSCIOUSNESS FROM MIND TO CONSCIOUSNESS13. Arguments against the Reduction of Consciousness to the Brain14. Neural Correlates of Consciousness (NCC)15. Neural Predispositions of Consciousness (NPC)16. Conceptual, Phenomenal, and Methodological Issues in the Investigation of ConsciousnessPART V: NEUROPHILOSOPHY OF SELF FROM CONSCIOUSNESS TO SELF17. Brain and Self18. Brain and Self-consciousness19. Abnormalities of Self and Brain in Psychiatric Disorders20. Brain and IntersubjectivityEpilogue: Is the Brain a Door Opener?