Objections to immaterialism

Question 1

Thousand souls problems (2)

Answer 1

Possible for human body to be attached to a thousands souls. Things appear same. Absurd scenario could not be ruled out. 2) More than one soul - conflict to control body - manifest in animals outward behaviour. Dont see outward quarelling though.

Question 2

The interaction problem (2)

Answer 2

How could nonphysical soul bring about physical event in body? Physical events cause physical events - eating food supresses hunger. 2) Would imply physics is wrong. Interaction conflict with physical laws on particles.

Question 3

Continuity problem (3)

Answer 3

Definitely have soul or not. Some creatures unsure whether have consciousness.souls - spiders. Not possible to see which do from behaviour. Should be though. 2) Imm reply - every animal has soul but some souls not conscious. 3) Not clear why animal would have soul yet not consciousness.

Question 4

Duplicating machine (3)

Answer 4

Machine that produces exact duplicate of you. Does not copy soul. Would it be conscious and intelligent? Immaterialist say no. 2) But neurology show that severe mental defects are always correlated with severe physical defects in brain - never find disabled people without defect. 3)Reason is defected soul. But why should defective brains also have defective souls? Why should physical defect in brain prevent soul from functioning.

Question 5

Remote control argument (3)

Answer 5

Should expect soul and body functioning to be like drone operator being independent from condition of drone. 2) Alterations to brain - blow to head, booze cause unconsciousness. Yet soul should continue to function. 3)Damage to brain would disrupt communication and contact with senses. But you’d remain fully conscious - not the case though.

Question 6

Electric dualism (2)

Answer 6

Response to rc. Soul can think and be conscious only when plugged into brain - cannot work in isolation. 2) Assymetry - soul activity count as thinking though needs body. Body activity does not count as thinking when accompanied by soul. Soul no more a thinking substance than body.

Question 7

Cooperative dualism (3)

Answer 7

Response to ec. Soul doesn’t think -a thought enabling substance - body needed as well to think. 2) This suggests mental realm is second rate to physical. Questions what soul does if not a thinking thing. 3) When body dies lose mental properties but soul perfectly intact - strange.