philosophy of mind - introduction

Question 1

What is philosophy of mind?

Answer 1

defined by group of problems to do with mentality
1. what is mentality?
2. questions regarding specific mental properties
3. relationship between mind and bodies

Question 2

what is the mind-body problem?

Answer 2

it looks as if the mental and bodily always occur together, but their characteristics seem entirely different

Question 3

you ask someone: are mental processes merely physical states in the brain? And they answer yes, what would you ask next?

Answer 3

How and why?

Question 4

you ask someone: are mental processes merely physical states in the brain? And they answer no, what would you ask next?

Answer 4

what are they and what is their relationship to the brain?

Question 5

who first introduced the mind-body problem?

Answer 5

Descartes

Question 6

mind does not necessarily equal brain. How would you argue in support of this statement?

Answer 6

1. brain has many processes that are not mental
2. some mental properties can occur outside the brain
3. mind and brain have different properties

Question 7

For Descartes, the mental was equal to the soul. How, according to him, is it equal?

Answer 7

1. both the soul and the mind are immaterial substances existing outside time and space
2. the mind has essential properties such as “thinking” and “being consciousness”
3. we literally “have” a mind

Question 8

Descartes’ assumption about the mind and soul being equal is currently not widespread. Which assumption does still exist?

Answer 8

we can have mental properties, features, and capacities that are unique (eg sensations and learning)

Question 9

what is substances?

Answer 9

objects or things, as defined by Aristotle

Question 10

“Properties of substances” what does this refer to?

Answer 10

properties are the characteristics that substances have in common

Question 11

What two concepts are “attributes” made up of?

Answer 11

1. properties and relations
2. attributes come into play when the properties of substances stand in relation to one another

Question 12

what is “phenomena”?

Answer 12

events, states, processes and facts that are both physical and mental

Question 13

What is “physical”?

Answer 13

objects and phenomena studied in physics

Question 14

What is materialism?

Answer 14

all things that exist in the world are bits of matter or aggregates of bits of matter

Question 15

What is physicalism?

Answer 15

all things that exist are entities recognized by the science of physics, or systems aggregated out of such entities (eg energy, particles, and forces)

Question 16

There are 4 mental phenomena. What are they?

Answer 16

1. sensations
2. mental states
3. feelings and emotions
4. volitions

Question 17

which of the 4 kinds of mental phenomena does the following describe:
This state is phenomenal, meaning there is something very distinctive about experiencing this state. It is associated with Qualia, and experiencing things such as pain, itching and smell

Answer 17

sensations

Question 18

What is qualia?

Answer 18

it makes up phenomenal consciousness which we have direct access to

Question 19

which of the 4 kinds of mental phenomena does the following describe:
this state is attributed by means of “that” - clause, such as “he believes that” or “she hopes that”. This state has propositional attitudes

Answer 19

mental states

Question 20

What is meant by propositional attitudes?

Answer 20

it is intentional (directed at something or has content) and a content-bearing state (has meaning that can be communicated)

Question 21

which of the 4 kinds of mental phenomena does the following describe:
this state is often qualitative and can entail propositional attitudes and beliefs. You can experience things such as anger and sadness in this state.

Answer 21

feelings and emotions

Question 22

which of the 4 kinds of mental phenomena does the following describe:
this state consist of propositional attitudes and action and has a given accompanying feeling.

Answer 22

volitions

Question 23

There are the 3 possible answers to the question “Is there a mark of the mental?”. The three answers are epistemology, non-spatiality, and intentionality. Name and explain all the answers that fall under the following:
epistemology

Answer 23

1. Direct knowledge
   “Know about” the two phenomena involved in different ways (Example: tooth ache due to cavity in tooth)
2. Privacy/first person privilege
   no-one else can know our mental states as we know them, but this does not apply to the mental.
3. Infallibility and transparency
   Descartes. Infallibility means you cannot bet “mistaken” regarding your mental experience. Transparency means you cannot NOT know about a mental state (Example: you cannot have pain without knowing about it)