Churchland's Neurophilosophical Argument That The Mind Is Our Self

In support of Patricia S. Churchland’s neurophilosophical argument that the brain/mind is our self, I will further argue that our various brain structures, functions, and the related body systems contribute to the important expressive aspects of the self, giving self its valued, unique identities. In her book, Touching a Nerve: The Self as Brain, Churchland uses a map analogy to introduce the brain’s relationship to the self. Although the brain creates a map that “constitutes a representation of certain relevant aspects of the environment,” Churchland emphasizes that the “brain does what brains do” and that “there is no separate me that reads my brain’s maps” (34).
Individual selves are differentiated through meaningful expression. Specific means of expression include speech, physical behaviors, and even, to some degree, internal thoughts. Unlike typical outward forms of expression, thoughts involve inner self-expression that gives people understanding of their own morals and values. Overall, these forms of expression are all directed by the brain. Speech, which can be verbal, written, or gesture-based, is a delivery of one’s cognitive thoughts. Through speech, people can build the other intangible aspects of their self and identity, such as their public image, reputation, and platforms. Connecting this to the brain, the Wernicke’s area is …show more content…
Likewise, it is also important to note that the brain not only processes environmental stimuli, because it also processes internal stimuli as well. The body has a lot of needs, from basic to complex and from physical to emotional, that are necessary for it to sustain itself. The brain addresses these needs that originate in the form of thoughts from within us. With metacognition, the deeper reflection on the one’s own thought processes, people not only develop a better sense of their individual self; they also shape how others perceive their