Soul Mind And Body

Question 1

Definition of metaphysics

Answer 1

Branch of philosophy that deals with nature of reality

Question 2

Definition of dualism

Answer 2

Mind constitutes the self and is separate to the body

Question 3

Definition of property dualism

Answer 3

Mind is a property of the brain and can’t exist independently

Question 4

Definition of substance dualism

Answer 4

Mind and body are two different substances capable of existing independently

Question 5

What analogy did Richard Dawkins use to explain materialism

Answer 5

People used to think that thunder was caused by God’s anger, but now we have a scientific explanation for it, similarly people use the soul to explain consciousness, but one day there will be a scientific explanation

Question 6

What do materialists believe

Answer 6

Eventually scientists will be able to identify consciousness with the physical brain

Question 7

What does the analogy of the axe show

Answer 7

Our soul is our ability to move from potentiality to actuality, if an axe was a living being, it’s soul would be the ability to chop

Question 8

What is desire in Plato’s tripartite soul

Answer 8

The pure appetite for things such as food, drink and sex, can directly oppose reason

Question 9

What is disembodied existence

Answer 9

Plato’s idea that the soul can exist without the body

Question 10

What is hyperbolic/Cartesian doubt

Answer 10

We have the ability to doubt everything apart from the existence of our minds because our senses decieve us, we could be dreaming, and an evil demon could be controlling what we see, ‘i think therefore I am’ ‘cogito ergo sum’

Question 11

What is reason in the tripartite soul

Answer 11

Allows us to know the forms and can plan for the good of the whole entity

Question 12

What is soul 1

Answer 12

Traditional, literal view of the soul which can exist beyond death, which Dawkins argued should be rejected

Question 13

What is soul 2

Answer 13

Metaphorical view of the soul which science will eventually be able to explain physiologically, which Dawkins argued can be accepted

Question 14

What is spirit in the tripartite soul

Answer 14

Emotional motivation, can be the source of bravery and courage

Question 15

What is the analogy of the charioteer

Answer 15

Charioteer (reason) guides chariot towards the realm of the forms, chariot is led by white horse (spirit) and black horse (desire) and the black horse tries to pull the chariot down

Question 16

What is the ao1 spec

Answer 16

Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, materialism

Question 17

What is the ao2 spec

Answer 17

Dualism Vs materialism, soul can be understood metaphorically or literally, distinction between the mind and body is a category error

Question 18

What is the bottom of Aristotle’s hierarchy of being

Answer 18

Vegetative souls (plants) have the ability to grow

Question 19

What is the middle of Aristotle’s hierarchy of being

Answer 19

Appetitive souls (animals) have the ability to grow, reproduce and desire

Question 20

What is the top of the hierarchy of being

Answer 20

Rational souls (humans), able to grow, desire, reproduce and reason

Question 21

What is the tripartite soul made up of

Answer 21

Reason, spirit, desire

Question 22

What was Plato’s view of the body

Answer 22

It is material, imperfect, seeks physical pleasure, source of endless trouble

Question 23

What was Skinner’s belief on materialism

Answer 23

Human thoughts are simply learned behaviours - positive behaviour leads to good results so will be repeated

Question 24

Who was Descartes

Answer 24

Substance dualist, 17th century philosopher and mathematician

Question 25

Who was Phineas gage

Answer 25

Man whose skull was pierced with an iron rod, but he survived and had a significant personality change

Question 26

Why can Aristotle be considered a property dualist

Answer 26

He believed the mind and soul are not capable of existing independently as the souls actions would not be visible without the body

Question 27

Why does Aristotle view the soul as essential

Answer 27

It is the formal cause (how we can be identified)