Lecture 10 Notes

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Review: Dualism

Dualism--The mind is made up of thinking stuff (immaterial) and the body is made up of extended stuff (material).
Two Types:

Substance Dualism--Mind and body interact.
Property Dualism--Mind and body do not interact. Mental states are epiphenomenal.

Problems with Dualism

Neurological Dependency of the Mental Undermines Substance Dualism

If substance dualism is true, then drugs and brain disorders should not undermine mental capacities. But they do!
This is a reason for being a property dualist as opposed to a substance dualist.

No Sign of Non-Physical Causation

If substance dualism is true, then the immaterial mind is causing events in the physical world, presumably in the brain. Thus, one should expect to find causal gaps in the causal series in the brain.
There are no known causal gaps in the causal series in the brain.
This is another reason for being a property dualist as opposed to a substance dualist.

Craziness of Epiphenomenalism

It seems obvious that our mental states do have influence on our physical states.
Ex. The pain in my leg causes me to shout "Ouch!"

New Respect for Matter in Age of Computers
Explanatory Weakness of Dualism--Dualism is in no better position than materialism with respect to explaining aspects of the mind like intentionality and consciousness.
Problem of Other Minds--If the mind is immaterial, it is impossible to know if there are any other minds besides your own.

Copyright 2009, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. Ramsey, W. (2006, September 19). Lecture 10 Notes. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Notre Dame OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.nd.edu/philosophy/introduction-to-philosophy-1/lectures/lecture-10-notes. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

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	Info Lecture 10 Notes Document Actions Review: Dualism Dualism--The mind is made up of thinking stuff (immaterial) and the body is made up of extended stuff (material). Two Types: Substance Dualism--Mind and body interact. Property Dualism--Mind and body do not interact. Mental states are epiphenomenal. Problems with Dualism Neurological Dependency of the Mental Undermines Substance Dualism If substance dualism is true, then drugs and brain disorders should not undermine mental capacities. But they do! This is a reason for being a property dualist as opposed to a substance dualist. No Sign of Non-Physical Causation If substance dualism is true, then the immaterial mind is causing events in the physical world, presumably in the brain. Thus, one should expect to find causal gaps in the causal series in the brain. There are no known causal gaps in the causal series in the brain. This is another reason for being a property dualist as opposed to a substance dualist. Craziness of Epiphenomenalism It seems obvious that our mental states do have influence on our physical states. Ex. The pain in my leg causes me to shout "Ouch!" New Respect for Matter in Age of Computers Explanatory Weakness of Dualism--Dualism is in no better position than materialism with respect to explaining aspects of the mind like intentionality and consciousness. Problem of Other Minds--If the mind is immaterial, it is impossible to know if there are any other minds besides your own. Copyright 2009, by the Contributing Authors. Cite/attribute Resource. Ramsey, W. (2006, September 19). Lecture 10 Notes. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Notre Dame OpenCourseWare Web site: http://ocw.nd.edu/philosophy/introduction-to-philosophy-1/lectures/lecture-10-notes. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.