Neurophilosophy as the Foundation of a New Medical Paradigm: From Dualism to Holism

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the applied potential of neurophilosophy — a dynamic interdisciplinary field that emerged at the intersection of neuroscience and the philosophy of mind in the late 20th century. Initially focused on solving fundamental metaphysical problems, such as the "hard problem of consciousness" and the search for its neural correlates, neurophilosophy is increasingly relevant for addressing conceptual crises in modern medicine rooted in the Cartesian dualism of "mind" and "body." The authors systematically examine how the theoretical framework of this pluralistic field — from radical eliminative materialism to non-reductive approaches (emergentism, neurophenomenology, and the narrative concept of the "self") — offers pathways for resolving pressing clinical dilemmas. The research focuses on key problems in medical practice: the reductionist treatment of patients as mere diagnoses; the ethical challenges of neuromodulation interventions that threaten personal authenticity; and the hierarchical conflict between "objective" diagnostic data and the patient's subjective experience. The article demonstrates how neurophilosophy, by asserting the inseparable link between mind and brain, provides a foundation for an integrative approach. It enables a reconceptualization of personal identity in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, validates the suffering of patients with "invisible" illnesses (fibromyalgia, functional disorders) by seeking their neurobiological underpinnings, and establishes an ethics of care centered on preserving the integrity of the "self." The conclusion posits that the dialogue between neurophilosophy and clinical practice fosters the development of a new, more humanistic paradigm. In this paradigm, treatment aims not only to alleviate symptoms but also to preserve the patient's identity, while subjective experience is recognized as a legitimate and essential component of diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making. Thus, neurophilosophy serves not merely as a theoretical discipline but as a crucial conceptual bridge connecting the advances of neuroscience with the goals of personalized and evidence-based medicine.