The End of the Empty Organism: Neurobiology and the Sciences of Human Action

In a singularly fundamental challenge to the positions widespread among social scientists, White distances himself from the reductionist models of the human brain. He asserts, basing his thought on the authoritative findings of modern neuroscientists, the causal potency of human self-awareness. The acceptance of such a potential in mankind transforms the behavioural sciences into the science of human action. Implicit in the evolutionary context of this perspective is a basic indeterminism inherent in human science. White stresses the central role of conscious purpose in human action and emphasises the importance of choice and its consequences at the level of political community. In urging a consideration of the significance that neuroscience has for the behavioural sciences, White explores truly basic issues at the heart of those disciplines. He makes a persuasive case for interpreting human action as purposeful, conscious, choice-based, and cumulatively unpredictable.