Dualism and its Discontents

Question 1

Dualism

Answer 1

Universe is made up of physical and mental stuff

Question 2

Physical stuff (3)

Answer 2

A) Described and explained by physics

B) Tied to space & time

C) Publicly accessible & objectively researchable

Question 3

Mental stuff (3)

Answer 3

A) No place in physics

B) Is not tied to space & time

C) Privately accessible & subjectively researchable

Question 4

Property dualism

Answer 4

Our mental properties arise from physical properties

Question 5

Substance dualism (2)

Answer 5

We are our minds (mind = substance, body = property)

1) If we can exist without a body, we cannot be a body
2) We can exist without a body
Therefore: We cannot be our body

Question 6

Occasionalism (2)

Answer 6

A) God occasions every interaction between mind & body

B) Problem: Is God responsible for evil acts?

Question 7

Parallelism

Answer 7

God synchronizes mind & body at birth

Question 8

Arguments for dualism (3)

Answer 8

A) Accommodates common sense (we naturally distinguish between physical & mental)

B) Principle of identity:
If x & y have the same features, they are identical, if not they are not identical (mind is indubitable & indivisible, body not)
(Wbu multiple personalities and CS & UCS?)

C) Conceivability
But: conceivability does not necessarily lead to possibility

Question 9

Arguments against dualism (3)

Answer 9

A) Interaction:
How do body & mind affect eachother?
But: pineal gland, non-deterministic quantum physics & physics as a mere paradigm

B) Simplicity:
Dualism is ontologically extravagant

C) Category mistake:
Mind is mistaken with behavior