Identity Theory Flashcards
What is the identity theory?
The mind is not an immaterial soul but identical with brain processes
What notion of substance dualism does the identity-theory reject primarily?
That the mind is embedded in an immaterial soul.
Consciousness is a brain process.
What does “is” mean in the sense of the identity theory?
Consciousness is constituted by a brain process
“Is” stands for constitution, not definition
What is the type-identity-theory?
Every type of mental state is the result of a specific type of brain state.
People who share the same mental state also share the same brain state.
If true, we could read minds by observing brain activity and applying known type-type identity relations.
What is the token-identity-theory?
Every token of a mental state-type is identical with a token of a brain state-type
Not all tokens of a mental state-type need to be identical with all tokens of a brain state-type
No claims which brain state is which mental state
What is J.J.C. Smart (1920-2012) take on the identity theory?
What is his main contribution?
He applies the theory not only to consciousness but to the entire mind. Research showed that the mind is manipulated only if and only insofar as the brain is manipulated.
Mentalistic language is “topic neutral”.
By using mentalistic language, we do not make any claims about the (material or immaterial) nature of our minds or their existence.
Why is multiple realization a problem for the type-identity-theory?
Animals and humans share not the same brain states (different structure) but the same mind states.
Neural plasticity - after damage to the brain, different brain structures can take over the function of the damaged area (in some cases)
In the sense of identity-theory, what is a “type” and what is a “token”?
Type: a class or a category
Token: a individual object or entity that belongs to a type
Example: You (the reader) are token of the type “human”
What is a big problem for identity theory in both forms?
The theory only states that mental states are brain states but not why. While there are sensations, thoughts and other mental activity, nothing suggest that they consist of brain activity.
What are the origins of the identity theory?
Edwin Boring (1886 - 1968) suggested 1933 that consciousness could be a brain process or may be identical to a brain process
Mental stuff was a taboo at that time -> ignored
Ullin Place (1924 - 2000) rediscovered Boring in 1950 and was convinced, that the identity theory is the best alternative for substance dualism
Place asked what it means when we say that consciousness is a brain process
Place later involved J.J.Smart (1920 - 2012)
