Du Flashcards
Summarise ‘Substance Dualism’.
Substance dualism is a theory of the mind and a type of dualism - belief that mental states are, in some way, non physical. It proposes that two distinct types of substance exist: physical substance and non-physical mental substance, and mental substance is not identical to physical substance.
State the claims in ‘Substance Dualism’.
(1) Minds exist and are not identical to material bodies or to parts of material bodies.
(2) There is a non-physical realm (the realm of mental substance/s) in which non-physical minds exist which is entirely separate from the physical realm (the realm of physical substance).
(3) The ‘principle attribute’ of mental substance is thinking/consciousness (it is called res cogitans / thinking substance).
(4) The ‘principle attribute’ of physical substance is extension in space (it is called res extensa / extended substance).
Summarise ‘Property Dualism’.
Property dualism is a theory of the mind and a type of dualism - belief that mental states are, in some way, non physical. It proposes that two distinct types of property exist: physical properties and non-physical mental properties, and mental properties are not identical to physical properties.
State the claims in ‘Property Dualism’.
1) Two distinct non-identical types of property exist: physical properties and non-physical mental properties.
2) Mental properties are not identical to physical properties
Summarise ‘Descartes’ Conceivability argument’.
Descartes conceivably argument within metaphysics of the mind proposes that as we can think of our own minds existing without any of our physical bodies existing, our minds cannot be physical itself, which supports substance dualism - the theory of our universe being made up of non identical, distinct physical substance, and non-physical substance.
State ‘Descartes’ Conceivability argument’ in standard form.
P1: I can (clearly and distinctly) conceive of my mind existing without my extended physical body (and, indeed, the whole physical world) existing.
P2: Anything that I can (clearly and distinctly) conceive of is (metaphysically) possible.
C1: Therefore, my mind existing without my extended physical body (and indeed the whole physical world) is metaphysically possible.
P3: If it is metaphysically possible for X to exist without Y then X is not identical to Y.
C2: Therefore, my mind is not identical with my extended physical body (nor is it identical with any part of the physical world).
State the characteristics of ‘Descartes’ Conceivability argument’.
1) A priori - As it is justified independent upon experience/s.
2) Deductive - As it is an argument that intends the conclusion to follow the premises with logical necessity.
Summarise ‘Descartes’ Indivisibility argument’.
Descartes’ Indivisibility argument metaphysics of the mind proposes that while the physical is divisible, the mind isn’t, therefore meaning g they are not the same, which supports substance dualism - the theory of our universe being made up of non identical, distinct physical substance, and non-physical substance.
State ‘Descartes’ Indivisibility argument’ in standard form.
P1: My mind and my mental states cannot be conceived of as being divided.
P2: Everything thought of as physical can be conceived of as being divided.
C: Therefore: minds and mental states are not physical.
State the characteristics of ‘Descartes’ Indivisibility argument’.
1) A priori - As it is justified independent upon experience/s.
2) Deductive - As it is an argument that intends the conclusion to follow the premises with logical necessity.
Summarise ‘Jackson’s knowledge’
/Mary argument’.
Jackson’s ‘knowledge’/Mary argument within metaphysics of the mind proposes that we can know all about the physical but be able to learn something, so there must be something non-physical, which supports property dualism - the theory of our universe having non identical, distinct physical properties, and non-physical properties.
State ‘Jackson’s knowledge’
/Mary argument’ in standard form.
P1: Mary has propositional knowledge about all physical properties/facts.
P2: After seeing red for the first time Mary gains propositional knowledge.
P3: If she gains propositional knowledge then this knowledge must be about non-physical properties/facts.
C1: Therefore, there are non-physical properties/facts.
C2: Therefore, property dualism is true.
Summarise ‘Chalmers’ philosophical zombies argument’.
Chalmers’ philosophical zombies argument within metaphysics of the mind proposes that as we can think of a world physically the same as this one but without the mental, the mental is not physical, which supports property dualism - the theory of our universe having non identical, distinct physical properties, and non-physical properties.
State ‘Chalmers’ philosophical zombies argument’ in standard form.
P1: A zombie world - a world that is physically identical to the actual world but in which there are no phenomenal properties / no consciousness / qualia - is conceivable.
P2: If a zombie world is conceivable then it is (metaphysically) possible.
C1: Therefore, a zombie world is (metaphysically) possible.
P3: If a zombie world is metaphysically possible then phenomenal properties are not physical properties.
C2: Therefore, phenomenal properties (the qualia) are not physical properties.
