Representations of Mind: C. S. Sherrington and Scientific Opinion, c.1930–1950

Abstract

ArgumentRecent writers in the brain sciences and the philosophy of mind contrast modern biological theories of consciousness with a mind-body dualism supposedly dominant half-a-century ago which they regard as scientifically sterile. Reference to C. S. Sherrington often signals the rejected dualism. This paper re-examines Sherrington's highly qualified position and links it to the arguments of British scientists for whom he was a figurehead in the 1930s and 1940s. I interpret the mind-body literature as ancillary to debates about cultural values. From this perspective, dualism represents a defense of a threatened conservative culture. Dismissal of scientists' supposed "dualism" does little to illuminate the tension in their thought between defense of values traditionally associated with mind and hope for an integrated mind-body science. This leads to comments on Sherrington's own concept of integration. The conclusion relates these points to the new research in the brain sciences evident by the end of the 1940s. 1 These views do not go unchallenged. For the argument that people, not brains, think, see Coulter 1989; and for the argument that natural science explanations do not address what we wish to understand about human action, see e.g., Taylor [1971] 1985. Materialists select an easy target in attacking outmoded forms of ontological dualism. Biological theorists of consciousness have also attacked "folk psychology"; but again there are critics who regard them as attacking straw-men (see Kusch 1998).

Neurosurgery and consciousness: historical sketch and future possibilities

“…27 Sherrington's ex periments on mammalian physiology and his pioneer ing concept of integration in the nervous system, with its highest expression in the human mind, heavily influenced Penfield's future career. 27,59,77 In his book The Mystery of the Mind: A Critical Study of Consciousness and the Human Brain, Penfield states: 59 My professional career was shaped, I suppose, in the neu rophysiological laboratory of Professor Sherrington at Oxford. Eventually it was continued in the wards and operating rooms of the Montreal Neurological Institute.…”

From Experimental Interaction to the Brain as the Epistemic Object of Neurobiology

“…My project is concerned with two fields of STS which are often separated: research on neuroscience (Borck 2002;Dror 2002;Hagner 2002;Hagner and Borck 2002;Harrington 1992;Hayward 2002;Loettgers 2007;Rees and Rose 2005;Smith 2002;Young 2002) and research on animal experimentation in general. Empirical analysis of electrophysiological experimentation on monkeys seems to fall in a noman's-land between established regions of interest.…”

Responsabilités Neuroéthiques

“…Homme prudent et réfléchi, il croyait qu'étant donné les connaissances de son époque, cette thèse représentait une menace à la culture et aux valeurs humaines. 89 Il y a des défis inhérents à la réflexion personnelle dans tous les domaines de recherche. Cependant, certaines approches telles que l'introduction d'une éducation aux sciences humaines et sociales dans la formation médicale (medical humanities) peuvent élargir la formation des chercheurs et des médecins et aider à disséminer les habiletés de réflexion autocritique.…”