Encephalocentrism
The belief that the brain (encephalon) is the exclusive seat of mind, consciousness, and identity, and that everything about a person can be explained by studying their brain. Encephalocentrism dismisses the role of the body (gut feelings, heart rate, posture), the environment (tools, spaces), and social interaction (distributed cognition) in shaping thought. It is the neurocentrist version of brain‑body dualism: it treats the brain as a computer running software, and the rest of the person as mere hardware. Critics advocate for embodied, extended, or enactive views of cognition.
Encephalocentrism Example: “The encephalocentrist argued that ‘you are your connectome’ and that mind‑uploading would preserve the person. He ignored that memory, identity, and emotion are also stored in bodies, relationships, and places.”
Encephalocentrism by Abzugal Nammugal Enkigal June 5, 2026