Mind Matters Mirror Neurons, Consciousness, and the Bearer Question
Nov 14, 2024
In this engaging discussion, Moretu Guta, an analytic philosophy teacher and associate fellow at the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity, dives deep into the connection between mirror neurons and consciousness. They explore the role of mirror neurons in fostering empathy and emotional responses, questioning the nuances of personal perspectives in understanding others. Guta also critiques the current debates surrounding these concepts, emphasizing the importance of subjective experiences in cognitive science.
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Mirror Neurons and Empathy
- Mirror neurons activate both when we perform an action and when we observe others doing the same action.
- They may underpin empathy by allowing us to relate to others' actions internally.
Perspectives in Empathy
- Empathy involves adopting a second-person perspective to emotionally engage with another's experience.
- However, only the first-person perspective truly exists metaphysically, with others being grammatical constructs.
From Monkeys to Mirror Systems
- Mirror neuron research began with monkeys using invasive techniques, later extrapolated to humans using brain imaging.
- In humans, mirror neurons are distributed and studied as a mirror system rather than isolated cells.
