Philosophy-Soul, Mind and Body

Question 1

There is no such thing as a soul. Discuss

Answer 1

1.Plato’s evidence for a soul is completely illogical
2. The dualist approach has too many logical issues
3. The materialist approach is much more coherent

Question 2

Evaluate the view that the thinking mind is separate from the body

Answer 2

1. We would have to accept theorists like Plato and Descartes’ whole approach
2. The materialist approach is stronger
3. While a mind can be spiritual it doesn’t mean its separate.

Question 3

To what extent does Plato successfully explain the relationship between the body and the soul?

Answer 3

1. We would have to accept his theory of the forms
2. His reasoning has too many logical issues
   3.Plato’s explanation though he claims it is not simple

Question 4

Plato’s view of the soul is more coherent than that of Aristotle. Discuss

Answer 4

1.Aristotle explains the function of the soul and why it exists unlike Plato
2.Plato’s view of the soul suffers from more logical issues
3. Although Aristotle’s view is more coherent than Plato’s, the materialist approach is more coherent overall

Question 5

Evaluate Descartes’s solution to the soul, mind and body problem

Answer 5

1. Descartes’s solution can only be considered an approach as cartesian doubt is too extreme
2. His use of Leibniz law is fallacious and contains a category error
3. The materialist approach is much stronger