This book bridges metaphysics and cognitive science by exploring how the brain does not passively receive the world but actively predicts and hallucinates it, turning our experience into a neural construct. Cognitive Metaphysics identifies the basic categories through which the brain structures our perceived reality and investigates the metaphysical implications that follow. Drawing on predictive processing, it reframes material reality as a model built by the brain and proposes a naturalist, Kantianidealist framework for understanding the fundamental structures of both ordinary and scientific objects, as well as how they relate to one another. The book shows how questions about composition, persistence, vagueness, and their connection to quantum reality must be rethought in terms of the predictive mind, offering a fresh approach to traditional metaphysical problems.

Advocates for a naturalised Kantian interpretation of metaphysics Bridges the existing gap in the literature between the brain sciences and metaphysics Assesses different traditional and contemporary metaphysical positions, including realism and idealism

Autorentext

Arthur Schwaninger is a researcher at the University of Zurich. He studied Computational Science at ETH Zurich and published research in the fields of physical chemistry and biology. Following further studies in Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and work in Computational Neuroscience within the Human Brain Project, he pursued a doctorate in theoretical philosophy. He received his PhD in 2022 with summa cum laude. Since then, he has worked across various areas of artificial intelligence and has advised companies on their AI strategies. Alongside his research, he has also been active in teaching philosophy.

Inhalt

1 Introduction. Part I: Naturalising Kantian Metaphysics.- 2 Two worlds in conflict.- 3 Eliminating ordinary objects.- 4 Eliminating intuitive metaphysics.- 5 Metaphysics is not (only) about existence.- 6 Levels of reality a naturalist's take on metaphysics.- 7 Realism and idealism.- 8 Imposing structure onto the world.- Part II: The Predictive Brain.- 9 The problem of underdetermination.- 10 Discovering grouping principles.- 11 From the concept of life to neural processing.- 12 Hyperpriors and Kant's views on cognition.- Part III: Constructing the Manifest World.- 13 Individuation by prediction and debunking realism.- 14 Explaining manifest structures.- 15 Na¨ve classification and the nature of vagueness.- 16 Information processing and the clash.- 17 Reality and logic at conflict.- 18 Philosophising and the clash.- 19 Summary.- Bibliography.- Index.