Definitions by Abzu Land

Neoesotericism

An adaptation of esotericism (hermetic traditions, Kabbalah, alchemy, astrology, tarot) to current scientific knowledge. It reinterprets esoteric symbols and practices in terms of depth psychology (Jung, archetypes), systems theory, cognitive neuroscience, and semiotics. Neoesotericism does not defend literal supernaturalism; rather, it argues that esotericism was a “symbolic language” for real psychic and cosmic phenomena, now explainable by science. For example, alchemy becomes an allegory of psychological individuation; astrology, a mnemonic system of natural cycles and behavioural traits.

Neoesotericism Example: “A neoesotericist claimed: ‘The tarot does not predict the future but maps Jungian archetypes of the collective unconscious – and neuroscience confirms universal symbolic patterns.’ The psychologist responded: ‘Confirms where? That’s wishful thinking with footnotes.’ The neoesotericist counter‑replies: ‘You ignore decades of cross‑cultural dream studies and archetype research. Dismissing symbolic systems as “unscientific” is not criticism – it’s a discipline’s blindness to its own foundations.’”

Neoesotericism by Abzu Land May 27, 2026

Neuroextremism

A radical version of neurocientificism that advocates not only the explanatory supremacy of neuroscience but also extreme interventions in the brain to “improve” humanity – such as invasive neurotechnologies, neural control devices, or the elimination of certain emotions/beliefs via brain manipulation. Neuroextremism frequents enhancement ethics, transhumanism, and even proposals for “neurorights” that, ironically, seek to protect the brain from abuses that it itself proposes. It is criticised for its lack of caution and for treating the brain as a reprogrammable device, ignoring the complexity of personhood and the risks of unintended consequences.

Neuroextremism Example: “A neuroextremist argued: ‘We should implant chips that prevent racism directly into the brain.’ The bioethicist replied: ‘Who decides what racism is? Who implants? That’s neuroextremism – a neurological dictatorship disguised as a solution.’”

Neuroextremism by Abzu Land May 27, 2026

Neurofundamentalism

The belief that neuroscience provides the ultimate, unquestionable foundation for all other disciplines that study human beings (psychology, sociology, economics, law, education). The neurofundamentalist believes that in the future, all human sciences will be “reduced” to neurobiology, and that today we should already reform public policies, educational practices, and legal systems based on still‑provisional brain findings. It is a form of fundamentalism because it treats neuroscience as a fixed base, immune to external criticism. It overlooks the fact that neuroscience itself depends on psychological and social concepts.

Neurofundamentalism Example: “A neurofundamentalist proposed that schools use neurofeedback to ‘optimise attention’. The pedagogue replied: ‘What about teacher‑student relationships? Content? Context? You’re grounding everything in the brain – that’s reductionist fundamentalism.’”

Neurofundamentalism by Abzu Land May 27, 2026

Neurofanaticism

A militant, irrational attitude of defending neuroscience as the solution to all human problems, combined with contempt or hostility toward non‑neuroscientific disciplines (psychoanalysis, philosophy, arts). The neurofanatic treats any criticism of neuroscience as “denialism” or “obscurantism”, and promotes neuromania as if it were a definitive scientific revolution. It is a form of dogmatic enthusiasm that blocks interdisciplinary dialogue and intellectual humility. Neurofanaticism often expresses itself through online polemics, where brain images are used as rhetorical weapons to silence alternative approaches without genuine argument.

Neurofanaticism Example: “A neurofanatic on Twitter: ‘Psychoanalysis is bullshit! Freud was a charlatan! Only neuroscience explains the mind!’ A psychologist replied: ‘Your fanaticism isn’t science – it’s a secular religion with electrodes.’”

Neurofanaticism by Abzu Land May 27, 2026

Neuroreductionism

An explanatory strategy that reduces psychological, social, or cultural phenomena to neurobiological descriptions, usually of the form “X is nothing but Y neural.” Examples: “love is oxytocin”, “belief is a pattern of synaptic firing”, “consciousness is prefrontal cortex activity”. Neuroreductionism eliminates the mental and social levels of analysis, treating them as mere epiphenomena or illusions. Although explanatory reduction is legitimate in science, strong neuroreductionism is criticised for ignoring emergence, history, and context. It commits a category error by treating different levels of description as if they were competing rather than complementary.

Neuroreductionism Example: “In a popular science article: ‘Depression is a chemical imbalance. Take the pill.’ The critical psychiatrist replied: ‘That’s neuroreductionism – depression also involves grief, work, violence. Reducing it to serotonin is to ignore the person.’”

Neuroreductionism by Abzu Land May 27, 2026

Neurocentrism

A theoretical stance that places the brain at the absolute centre of explanations of human experience, marginalising or neglecting the role of the body (neuroembodiment), environment, technology, and social relations. Neurocentrism treats the brain as an “isolated computer” that processes inputs and produces outputs, ignoring that the brain is part of a body‑world system. Critics argue that neurocentrism is an inverted dualism: it separates the brain from the rest of the organism and its environment, something that ecological neuroscience has already overcome. It leads to a narrow, laboratory‑based view of human nature that cannot account for context‑dependent, situated cognition.

NeurocentrismExample: “A neurocentrism professor said: ‘The mind is what the brain does.’ A student asked: ‘Then a brain in a jar would have a mind?’ The professor hesitated – and the student spotted the neurocentrism trap.”

Neurocentrism by Abzu Land May 27, 2026

Neuroscientism

The dogmatic application of scientism to the field of neuroscience: the belief that neuroscience is the fundamental science for explaining mind, behavior, and society, and that all other approaches (depth psychology, phenomenology, anthropology) are redundant or “pseudoscience.” The neurocientificist treats any brain discovery as ultimate truth, ignoring psychological, social, and cultural levels of analysis. It is a form of epistemological reductionism that confuses neural correlation with psychological explanation. It dismisses the need for higher‑level theories by claiming that brain data alone will eventually explain everything, while ignoring the fact that brain activity itself requires interpretation through psychological concepts.

Neuroscientism Example: “In a debate on trauma, the neurocientificist stated: ‘Forget life history – everything is in the amygdala. Want proof? Look at the fMRI.’ The psychoanalyst replied: ‘You’re committing neurocientificism: the amygdala doesn’t explain why the patient dreams of dogs.’”

Neuroscientism by Abzu Land May 27, 2026