Mind body problem

1
Mind body problem What is the relationship
between mental states and the physical world?
René Descartes (1596-1650)
Zoltán Dienes, Philosophy of Psychology
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DUALISM   substance dualism vs property
dualism
Mind can exist independently of any physical
object
Some objects, e.g. brains, can have non-physical
mental features, but when the object ceases to
exist so do its mental features
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Dualism epiphenomenalism vs
interactionism
The mental can influence the physical (e.g.
intending to lift your arm) and the physical can
influence the mental (perception)
The physical world is causally closed the mental
cannot influence the physical
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Arguments for dualism   1) Qualia It is like
something to have mental states see colours,
feel happy, etc. Why should it be like anything
to be a brain?     2) parapsychology  Is there
evidence for effects of the mental above and
beyond the laws of physics? But if there seems to
be, is that evidence for dualism or a need to
revise the laws of physics?
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Arguments against dualism   1) the neural
dependence of all known mental phenomena Take any
mental phenomenon including those most basic to
what it is to be a conscious person and we can
monkey with it by playing with the brain  2)
explanatory power What detailed characteristics
of mental states have been explained by a well
worked-out dualist theory? 3) evolution How does
gradual natural selection lead to something
non-physical popping into existence?
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• MONISM
•  
• idealism Only mind exists
•  
• Physicalism (materialism) Only the physical
  world exists
• Identity theory mental states are physical
  states of the brain.
•  Argument
• Mental states can cause physical events
• The physical world is causally closed
• Therefore mental states are physical states

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FUNCTIONALISM   Mental states are functional
states (software compared to hardware).   Argument
s against   1) Inverted spectra could not my
red quale be like your blue quale while our red
mental states have the same functional roles and
our blue mental states have the same functional
roles?   2) zombies Could there not be a system
with all the right functional relationships but
just no qualia?