Chapter 1 Flashcards
Monist Theorist
there is only one kind of stuff in the world
Materialists
- only matter and that the physical universe is causally closed (does not imply that consciousness can be reduced to physical states).
- consciousness or non-physical minds are not able to intervene in the physical world
Identity Theory
mental states are identical with physical states.
Functionalism
mental states are identical with functional states.
Neutral monism
world is made up of one type of stuff that cannot be classified as either physical or mental.
Panpsychism
view that all material things have associated awareness or mental properties; everything has a conscious (even a rock)
Dualist Theorist
there are two kinds of stuff in the world.
Cartesian Dualism (form of substance dualism)
world consists of the extended stuff in which physical bodies are made and the unextended thinking stuff of which physical bodies are made
Main Problem of Substance Dualism
does not explain how the mind interacts with the body when the two are made of different substances
Dualist interactionism
argue that the processes in the synapses of the brain are finely poised so that they can be influenced by a nonphysical thinking and feeling self (self controls the brain)
Epiphenomenalism
- mental states are produced by physical events but have no causal role (physical events cause mental events but have no affect on physical events)
- type of dualism
History of consciousness
- Appeared in the 18th century to describe philosophy of mental life
- Abolished during the rise of behaviorism
- Re-appeared in the 1970’s but subject peaked interest in the 1990’s
Helmholtz (1821-1894)
made first measurement of the speed of conduction of nerve signals which was referred to as “velocity of thought”
Freud
- conscious consisted of the impulses of the “id” (biological desires and needs
- the defence mechanisms and neurotic processes of the “ego”
- the “superego” was the source of conscience and guilt acquired through childhood experiences
Phenomenology
-based on psychology and philosophy; based on putting subjective experience first