S. Pinker about the Comprehensible and Incomprehensible in the Essence of Man

Abstract

What is the relationship between consciousness and brain? Does the brain determine the work of consciousness? Or, on the contrary, consciousness forces the brain to adapt to its tasks? These questions are keys to the philosophy of consciousness and to the philosophical anthropology. The recently translated into Russian book by Steven Pinker “Blank sheet: the Nature of man. Who and why refuses to recognize it today” [14] presents the original concept of the essence of man. Using the latest data of science, primarily cognitive science, neuroscience, behavioral genetics and evolutionary psychology, Pinker proves that the essence of man lies in the brain and its unique structure. The brain defines the human personality, behavior, inclinations and culture as a whole, which is thought of as a set of technologies. To say that a person is a tabula rasa, according to Pinker, is absurd. Man is not the author of himself and not a subject for manipulation by social engineers. Man has a biological nature, which should not be afraid to talk over. Pinker assures us that his thesis will not lead to racism, sexism, genocide, nihilism, terrorism, etc. On the contrary, the appeal to the data of sciences will open for us a community of people as a species, that is hidden behind the differences of “parochial” cultures. However, Pinker’s position is vulnerable, at least in a few points. First, from philosophical discourse about man Pinker moves to scientific, thereby offering initially to talk about man in positivist terms. He reduces consciousness to mind, mind to brain, and brain to computation. Second, Pinker thinks of culture as of a set of technologies that serve the biological task of adaptation. However, he can not explain the redundancy of human technology in relation to the requirements of nature. Third, the theory of modules, which Pinker shares, can be contrasted now with the theory of neuroplasticity, according to which the brain is capable of transformation under the influence of consciousness. Comprehending the essence of man, Pinker leaves room for the unfathomable. This unfathomable is the freedom of man.