The brain has long been an object of interest and fascination for philosophers

The brain has long been an object of interest and fascination for philosophers. Some philosophers, such as Descartes, even offered proposals as to how it worked. But philosophers, using the tools of their profession, do not have the ability themselves to investigate the operation of the brain any more than they have tools to investigate the cell, the atom, or the solar system. With respect to these other domains of phenomena, philosophers have made their contribution by engaging the practitioners of the relevant sciences who do have the tools to conduct the appropriate investigations of the phenomena. Thus, in the last part of the 20 century philosophy of science has largely transformed into the philosophy of particular sciences. This explains the term “engages” in the title of these lectures, which are intended both to characterize and exemplify the manner in which philosophy is currently engaging the cognitive neurosciences.