MoM - Objections To Dualism Flashcards
Outline the problem of other minds for Cartesian dualism
According to SD, our minds are non-physical, and we experience them via thoughts, sensations and feelings. How can we verify the existence of the minds of others if all we experience is their behaviour via their physical body? There is no way to know if they have a mind.
What is Mill’s response to the problem of other minds (from analogy)?
Mill uses analogy to claim others have minds:
- I have a mind that causes my behaviour
- Other people have bodies and act similarly to me in similar situations
- Therefore, by analogy, their behaviour has the same cause as my behaviour (a mind)
- Therefore other people have minds
Outline the ‘best hypothesis’ response to the problem of other minds
While the mind can’t be directly observed (according to SD), other minds existing is the best hypothesis since it would best explain why humans act the way they do, so it is reasonable to believe other minds exist
Outline the empirical issue with Cartesian dualism
Energy can’t be created or destroyed (the universe is a closed system): physicalists claim we live in a closed system where energy can only be transferred, and if SD is true then energy would constantly be added to the closed system every time we think, however there is a lot of evidence to suggest we do live in a closed system (so SD must be wrong)
Outline the conceptual issue with Cartesian dualism
Current science indicates that movements of the body are caused by physical events in the brain, so how could a non-physical substance transfer to the physical world? (E.g. the sensation of hunger leads one to eat)
What was the Princess of Bohemia’s objection to SD (in support of conceptual issue)?
Physical things can only be moved if interacted with by another physical thing; SD claims the mind is non-physical and therefore cannot touch the body - either SD is false or the mind cannot move the body (and we know that the mind moves the body), therefore SD is false
What is Descartes’ response to the problem posed by the Princess of Bohemia?
The mind is closely joined to a ‘little gland’ that is now understood as the pineal gland, which he claims that will can influence, and in response, the gland coordinates the willed action
However this still doesn’t account for the non-physical will influencing the physical pineal gland
What does it mean to say that Cartesian dualism is interactionist?
The theory that mental and physical events can cause one another even though the mind and body are distinct substances (interactionist substance dualism)
What does it mean to say that property dualism is interactionist
The theory that mental and physical events can cause one another even though mental and physical properties are distinct fundamental properties (interactionist property dualism)
What are some similarities between interactionist and epiphenomenalist dualism?
What are some differences between interactionist and epiphenomenalist dualism?
