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Building a Feminist Philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience

Bentley, Vanessa A.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1447691278

Abstract Details

2015, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Arts and Sciences: Philosophy.
Feminist philosophers of science identify sexist and androcentric science and develop alternate practices to address science’s empirical limitations and its contributions to social oppression. However, some scholars have questioned the impact of feminist epistemology on scientific practice. In my dissertation, I advance the project of feminist philosophy of science by articulating a method to connect it to scientific practice. I develop a feminist philosophy of cognitive neuroscience using feminist standpoint empiricism that is informed by the specifics of practice. In chapter one, I establish the gap between feminist theory and feminist practice of science. I claim that feminist philosophy of science has the tools to effect change in scientific practice, but it must be articulated in a way that engages scientists. In order to make it relevant to scientists, feminist philosophy of science must be tailored to the specifics of a particular discipline of science. I defend feminist standpoint empiricism (Intemann 2010) for its potential to connect to scientific practice, and I identify the considerations for translating feminist standpoint empiricism to a specific science. In chapter two, I introduce the theory of sex/gender differences in the brain, the two neuroimaging case studies, and my critical approach: assessing the research on empirical grounds as well as through the feminist standpoint. The next two chapters are case studies on the neuroimaging of human sex or gender differences. Chapter three investigates structural differences in the corpus callosum, the white matter tract connecting the two hemispheres of the brain. The corpus callosum is thought to be larger and more bulbous in women. Chapter four investigates functional differences in a visuospatial task, mental rotation, a task in which men supposedly excel. Although many studies find sex or gender differences in the corpus callosum or in mental rotation activation, there are no consistent findings across studies. I conclude for both questions that there is no evidence for sex or gender differences. In analyzing the methods and the assumptions, I uncover sex essentialism throughout the research process. Sex essentialism is the view that men and women are essentially different due to their sex.
Robert Skipper, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Valerie Hardcastle, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Angela Potochinik, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Robert Richardson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
253 p.
Philosophy of Science
philosophy of neuroscience; feminist epistemology; feminist standpoint empiricism; cognitive neuroscience; sex differences; gender differences

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bentley, V. A. (2015). Building a Feminist Philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1447691278

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bentley, Vanessa. Building a Feminist Philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience. 2015. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1447691278.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bentley, Vanessa. "Building a Feminist Philosophy of Cognitive Neuroscience." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1447691278

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1447691278
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This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.