Brain, Body, and Mind

Abstract

This book is a discussion of the most timely and contentious issues in the two branches of neuroethics: the neuroscience of ethics; and the ethics of neuroscience. Drawing upon recent work in psychiatry, neurology, and neurosurgery, it develops a phenomenologically inspired conception of neuroscience to explain the brain-mind relation. The idea that the mind is shaped not just by the brain but also by the body and how the human subject interacts with the environment has significant implications for free will, moral and criminal responsibility, and moral justification of actions. The book also examines the extent to which the use of drugs to enhance cognition will affect inequality and our sense of authenticity. In addition, it discusses brain imaging techniques to diagnose disorders of consciousness, deep-brain stimulation to treat neuropsychiatric disorders, and restorative neurosurgery for neurodegenerative diseases. By examining the empirical and normative factors that shape our knowledge of how the brain influences how we think and act, and by assessing the actual and potential effects of interventions in the brain, Brain, Body, and Mind offers a well-rounded discussion of the current state of neuroethics.