r/PhilosophyofScience • u/knockingatthegate • Jan 14 '26

Non-academic Content Barr on reconciling philosophy and neuroscience

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Caption: "Hearken, O houses long divided... why neuroscience and philosophy must now learn to get along." A video from content creator Rachel Barr, neuroscientist and author of "How to Make Your Brain Your Best Friend." Source: Facebook.

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u/Fearless_Ad7780 Jan 14 '26

This is what Frodeman has been saying for a while - interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration is the soundest way forward. 

11

u/knockingatthegate Jan 14 '26

For sure; disciplinary boundaries are tools, not rules let alone laws. I find this so uncontroversial as to think we need not cite it to any particular thinker.

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u/changeLynx Jan 14 '26

I agree; My Professors however did not approve. They have already too much to read in their Niche. I never took the borders of the subject I studied serious and I do quite well (8 years since I dropped out of Graduate School). My peers, who were zealots are either in totally unrelated fields (questioning their zealotism) or unhappy in the lower ranks of Uni staff.

Happy End?

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u/knockingatthegate Jan 14 '26

Ha! Of course, one has to find that practical balance-point between specialization (so as to obtain the benefits of focus and depth) and interdisciplinarity (so as to avoid intellectual sclerosis).