# Neurophilosophy Neurophilosophy is the interdisciplinary field that brings neuroscience to bear on traditional philosophical questions about mind, knowledge, and consciousness. The term was coined by Patricia Churchland in her 1986 book *Neurophilosophy: Toward a Unified Science of the Mind-Brain*. The core claim: philosophy of mind must be informed by and constrained by neuroscience. Patricia Churchland and [[Paul Churchland]] argue that armchair philosophy about the mind is inadequate—we need empirical data about brains. This contrasts with traditional analytic philosophy and connects to [[Eliminative Materialism]]: as neuroscience advances, folk psychological concepts may be replaced. Critics argue neurophilosophy neglects first-person experience and conceptual analysis. ## Core Claims | Claim | Implication | |-------|-------------| | Mind = brain | Physicalism | | Neuroscience constrains philosophy | No pure armchair theorizing | | Folk psychology may be false | Eliminativism possible | ## References - Churchland, Patricia. *Neurophilosophy* (1986) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurophilosophy ## Related - [[Paul Churchland]] - [[Eliminative Materialism]] - [[Folk Psychology]] - [[Philosophy of Mind]] - [[Neuroscience]]