Heemskerk, Johan (2025) Decoding Cognitive Neuroscience: A Defence of the Explanatory Role of Content. [Preprint]

Text Phil Sci Paper Updated 30-7-25.pdf - Accepted Version Download (217kB)

Abstract

Cognitive neuroscientists typically posit representations which relate to various aspects of the world, which philosophers call representational content. Anti-realists about representational content argue that contents play no role in neuroscientific explanations of cognitive capacities. In this paper, I defend realism against an anti-realist argument due to Frances Egan, who argues that for content to be explanatory it must be both essential and naturalistic. I introduce a case study from cognitive neuroscience in which content is both essential and naturalistic, meeting Egan’s challenge. I then spell out some general principles for identifying studies in which content plays an explanatory role.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Heemskerk, Johan j.heemskerk@warwick.ac.uk 0009-0003-7646-4901
Keywords:	representation, content, neuroscience, explanation, decoding, realism
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Computation Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations
Depositing User:	Dr. Johan Heemskerk
Date Deposited:	31 Jul 2025 13:02
Last Modified:	31 Jul 2025 13:02
Item ID:	26060
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Computation Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science > Concepts and Representations
Date:	2025
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/26060

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