Effects of the Neuro-Turn: The Neural Network as a Paradigm for Human Self-Understanding
Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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The Human Sciences after the Decade of the Brain. ed. / Jon Leefman; Elisabeth Hildt. 1. ed. London: Elsevier B.V., 2017. p. 159-177.
Research output: Contributions to collected editions/works › Contributions to collected editions/anthologies › Research › peer-review
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TY - CHAP
T1 - Effects of the Neuro-Turn
T2 - The Neural Network as a Paradigm for Human Self-Understanding
AU - Förster-Beuthan, Yvonne
PY - 2017/2/13
Y1 - 2017/2/13
N2 - This chapter discusses the image of the neural net and its impact on human self-understanding. Neuroscientific imaging techniques produce a wide range of images of the inside of the skull, which not only serve a medical purpose but also begin to fuel our imagination and give the interdisciplinary discussion a new edge. I will elaborate on how philosophy adopts neuroscientific thinking and how art incorporates artificial life. Based on an analysis of the movies Her (2013) and Transcendence (2014), two highly successful Hollywood movies and recent examples from popular culture, I show that these movies invoke a net structure as their leading image, and that it makes a difference whether the image of the brain (body-bound) or of the neural net (not body-bound) is used. Furthermore, the neural net represents an image that suggests the emergence of intelligence, self-organization, and infinity. It is closely intertwined with the Internet, advanced computing, and utopias of immortality. These images, I argue, ultimately suggest a new metaphysical dimension of an omni-present consciousness that permeates being itself.
AB - This chapter discusses the image of the neural net and its impact on human self-understanding. Neuroscientific imaging techniques produce a wide range of images of the inside of the skull, which not only serve a medical purpose but also begin to fuel our imagination and give the interdisciplinary discussion a new edge. I will elaborate on how philosophy adopts neuroscientific thinking and how art incorporates artificial life. Based on an analysis of the movies Her (2013) and Transcendence (2014), two highly successful Hollywood movies and recent examples from popular culture, I show that these movies invoke a net structure as their leading image, and that it makes a difference whether the image of the brain (body-bound) or of the neural net (not body-bound) is used. Furthermore, the neural net represents an image that suggests the emergence of intelligence, self-organization, and infinity. It is closely intertwined with the Internet, advanced computing, and utopias of immortality. These images, I argue, ultimately suggest a new metaphysical dimension of an omni-present consciousness that permeates being itself.
KW - Philosophy
KW - Embodiment
KW - Cognitive Sciences
KW - Phenomenology
KW - Philosophy of Film
KW - Philosophy of science
KW - Neuroscientific turn
KW - embodiment
KW - ontology
KW - film
KW - philosophy of mind
KW - image
KW - art
KW - human self-understanding
UR - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/book/9780128042052
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85020791550&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-804205-2.00010-0
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-12-804205-2.00010-0
M3 - Contributions to collected editions/anthologies
SN - 978-0-12-804205-2
SP - 159
EP - 177
BT - The Human Sciences after the Decade of the Brain
A2 - Leefman, Jon
A2 - Hildt, Elisabeth
PB - Elsevier B.V.
CY - London
ER -