Dualism Flashcards
What is materialism?
The idea that our mental life emerges from our physical brain.
What doctrine do most people find more attractive than materialism?
Dualism.
Who is a notable defender of dualism?
Rene Descartes
What does dualism argue about humans?
Humans are composed of both material and non-material (spiritual, mental) components.
What was Descartes’ first argument against materialism?
Humans are capable of actions that no machine or material entity could perform.
What example did Descartes use to illustrate his point about human behavior?
Robots in the French Royal Gardens
What was Descartes’ second argument for dualism?
Humans do not feel like bodies; they possess a consciousness that is distinct from their physical form.
What is the famous phrase associated with Descartes that summarizes his argument for existence?
I think, therefore I am.
What ancient philosophical method did Descartes employ to question existence?
Method of doubt.
According to Descartes, what cannot be doubted?
One’s own consciousness.
What is ‘the Matrix’ often cited as an example of?
The philosophical idea that we may be living in a simulated reality.
What does dualism suggest about personal identity?
It allows for the possibility of one’s consciousness existing separately from the physical body.
What is a common cultural representation of body switching?
Movies and stories where characters swap bodies.
What does the transformation in Kafka’s ‘Metamorphosis’ illustrate?
The separation of body and mind.
What consequence does dualism raise regarding life after death?
The possibility of surviving the destruction of the body.
What are some beliefs that rest on a dualist perspective?
- Personal identity
- Life after death
- Existence of supernatural beings (gods, angels).
What is a criticism of dualism from modern psychology and neuroscience?
It does not adequately explain certain phenomena related to the mind.
How has our understanding of physical entities changed since Descartes’ time?
We now know that physical entities can perform complex tasks like playing chess.
What evidence supports the idea that the brain is integral to mental life?
Physical events affecting the brain can alter consciousness and memory.
What technology allows us to observe brain activity related to thoughts?
fMRI (functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
True or False: Descartes believed that animals and humans are fundamentally the same.
False.
Fill in the blank: Descartes argued that the soul is entirely distinct from _______.
body.
