Modern brain research has refuted Descartes's concept of the human mind by
A) mapping the detailed structure of the brain.
B) classifying chemical activities within neurons.
C) providing evidence that the immaterial soul and the material body interact with each other.
D) providing evidence that damage to specific parts of the brain causes very specific losses of behaviors

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Modern brain research has provided evidence that damage to specific parts of the brain causes very specific losses of behaviors. This contradicts Descartes's concept of the human mind, which saw the mind as a non-material entity separate from the physical body. The fact that damage to specific parts of the physical brain can cause specific behavioral deficits indicates that the mind is not separate from the physical body but rather a product of it. Brain research has not provided evidence of the interaction between an immaterial soul and the material body, refuting another aspect of Descartes's philosophy. The mapping of the detailed structure of the brain and the classification of chemical activities within neurons have also contributed to our understanding of the brain's functions, but these achievements alone do not refute Descartes's concept of the human mind.

Modern Brain Research Has Refuted Descartes's Concept of the Human