Epäkartesian

Epäkartesian is a term used in the field of cognitive science and philosophy of mind to describe a perspective that rejects the Cartesian dualism, which is the traditional view that the mind and body are distinct and separate substances. The term "epäkartesian" is derived from the Finnish word for "non-Cartesian," reflecting the Finnish origin of the concept.

The Cartesian dualism, proposed by René Descartes, posits that the mind is a non-physical substance that interacts with the physical brain. Epäkartesianism, on the other hand, argues that the mind and body are not separate entities but are instead interconnected and interdependent. This perspective is often associated with materialist or physicalist views of the mind, which hold that mental states and processes are identical to or supervenient upon physical states and processes.

Epäkartesianism can take various forms, depending on the specific philosophical or scientific framework within which it is applied. For example, in cognitive science, epäkartesianism might be expressed through the idea that mental states are emergent properties of complex neural networks. In philosophy of mind, it might be expressed through the idea that mental states are identical to or supervenient upon physical states.

Despite its rejection of Cartesian dualism, epäkartesianism does not necessarily imply that the mind is reducible to the brain or that mental states are purely physical. Instead, it emphasizes the interconnectedness and interdependence of the mind and body, and the need for a more integrated understanding of the mind-brain relationship.