I Feel Your Pain: Mirror Neurons, Empathy, and Moral Motivation

Abstract

Mirror neurons are brain systems found in monkeys and humans that respond similarly to actions and to the perception of actions of others. This paper explores the implications of mirror neurons for several important philosophical problems, including knowledge of other minds, the nature of empathy, and moral motivation. It argues that mirror neurons provide a more direct route to other minds, empathy, and moral motivation that complements the more familiar route based on conscious, verbal inference. To show how mirror neurons accomplish these functions, I apply a neurocomputational account of representation and inference.