Philosophy of Mind:
The Mind-Body Problem
Cartesian (Substance) Dualism:
(unlikely because was a 2017 qn)
Definition a.k.a substance dualism, there are 2 distnct substances; the mind and the body
Descartes (17thC) argued mental & physical events do casually interact with each other
How can 2 radically diferent substances interact?
Ryle in the ‘Ofcial Doctrine’ illustrates these diferences
The body (res extensa) is divisible but the mind [res cogitans] is indivisible
Mental States Physical States
Subjectve Objectve
Qualitatve Quanttatve
Intentonal Non-intentonal
No spatal locaton Spatal locaton
Cannot be explained by physical processes Can be explained through micro-physical
processes
EVALUATION:
(-) The MB Problem prob of interacton
(-) Solipsism + Problem of Other Minds how does a solipsist begin to name mental states like
doubtng, afrming etc. cf. Witgenstein + Strawson
(-) Personal Identity how Descartes would identfy + re-identfy himself as the same ‘I’ that thinks
at 2 dif tmes
Property Dualism
Definition: All that exists in the world is mater (physical) but certain arrangements of mater give
rise to a 2nd kind of property i.e. subvenient brain processes give rise to supervenient mental states
There’s only 1 kind of ‘stuf’ in the world which is physicll
(CONTEXT) Epiphenomenalism:
Mental events are causally inert they’re symbolic by-products of physical processes
Mental states are merely the reactions to physical processes
E.g. boy meets girl produc of dopamine increasing HR by-product = feeling excitement
Huxley: a mental event is, “the symbol of that state of the brain”
The brain state is physical + has causal power mental state is NOT physical + NO causal power
EVALUATION:
(-) Interaction how do physical events cause mental ones? Radically dif substances
(-) Counter-intuitiie i.e. if a desire is purely physical its hard to see how we can resist the urge to eat
when hungry e.g. diet
(-) Moral Implications people’s responsibility will be reduced if our actons were physically
determined
EVALUATION OF PROPERTY DUALISM:
(+) Qualia: Knowledge Argument:
The Mind-Body Problem
Cartesian (Substance) Dualism:
(unlikely because was a 2017 qn)
Definition a.k.a substance dualism, there are 2 distnct substances; the mind and the body
Descartes (17thC) argued mental & physical events do casually interact with each other
How can 2 radically diferent substances interact?
Ryle in the ‘Ofcial Doctrine’ illustrates these diferences
The body (res extensa) is divisible but the mind [res cogitans] is indivisible
Mental States Physical States
Subjectve Objectve
Qualitatve Quanttatve
Intentonal Non-intentonal
No spatal locaton Spatal locaton
Cannot be explained by physical processes Can be explained through micro-physical
processes
EVALUATION:
(-) The MB Problem prob of interacton
(-) Solipsism + Problem of Other Minds how does a solipsist begin to name mental states like
doubtng, afrming etc. cf. Witgenstein + Strawson
(-) Personal Identity how Descartes would identfy + re-identfy himself as the same ‘I’ that thinks
at 2 dif tmes
Property Dualism
Definition: All that exists in the world is mater (physical) but certain arrangements of mater give
rise to a 2nd kind of property i.e. subvenient brain processes give rise to supervenient mental states
There’s only 1 kind of ‘stuf’ in the world which is physicll
(CONTEXT) Epiphenomenalism:
Mental events are causally inert they’re symbolic by-products of physical processes
Mental states are merely the reactions to physical processes
E.g. boy meets girl produc of dopamine increasing HR by-product = feeling excitement
Huxley: a mental event is, “the symbol of that state of the brain”
The brain state is physical + has causal power mental state is NOT physical + NO causal power
EVALUATION:
(-) Interaction how do physical events cause mental ones? Radically dif substances
(-) Counter-intuitiie i.e. if a desire is purely physical its hard to see how we can resist the urge to eat
when hungry e.g. diet
(-) Moral Implications people’s responsibility will be reduced if our actons were physically
determined
EVALUATION OF PROPERTY DUALISM:
(+) Qualia: Knowledge Argument:
