Abstract

This paper is an attempt to show how classical philosophical problems of minds an consciousness become reactualized in current neurobiology, cognitive science and evolutionary psychology. The philosophical criticism in this paper takes its direct starting point in The Social Brain Hypothesis, and I explore its core data and foundational concepts. This critique covers the methodology of correlative neuroscience and the philosophical interpretations connected with this type of science, especially the epistemic problems of intentionality and consciousness. Also, it explores the relation between epistemic concepts and ethical values. I discuss how the analytical tools from evolutionary psychology are applied in the field of healthcare research. Finally, I discus the institutionalization of The Social Brain Hypothesis and the its justification in relation to the problem of the naturalistic fallacy.