Triple aspect Monism: an interdisciplinary philosophy for the XXIth Century

Abstract

In this research, I investigate the possibility of an epistemology based on relevant results of science, with the goal of constructing of an integrated concept of reality (i.e., a monist ontology) that approaches three aspects considered to be foundational: the physical-chemical-biological, the informational (including non-conscious mental processes) and the mental conscious ones. Triple-Aspect Monism (TAM) is a philosophical conception containing the claims that these aspects are not reducible to each other, and that they manifest themselves progressively in time; first, the physical-chemical-biological; second, the informational; and third - under adequate conditions - the mental conscious one. A conscious system is conceived as an integrated unity of the three aspects. Therefore, the scientific study of consciousness should approach, besides the proper dynamics of conscious processes, also the physical-chemical-biological and informational aspects, which are tied to the first. In this research I assume TAM, and then proceed to discuss important issues of the philosophical tradition, the philosophy of the sciences of the brain and the mind, and bioethics. This investigation resumes results of previous publications into a new synthesis that incorporates some new ideas that I have more recently formulated. (AU)