Mind-Body interaction

Question 1

What is the pairing problem?

Answer 1

P1. According to substance dualism, there could be two mental substances, a and b, with identical intrinsic properties, only one of which influences a given body c
P2. To explain why only one of a or b influences c, we must appeal to their relational
properties
P3. Since mental substances are immaterial, they have no such relational properties.
C1. Substance dualism cannot explain how individual mental and physical substances are
related

Question 2

What is occasionalism?

Answer 2

P1. Mental and physical substances do not
casually interact directly, but provide the
‘occasion’ for the exercise of God’s divine
power
P2. God acts as a causal intermediary
between mental and physical substances
C1. Mental and physical causes do not necessitate their
effects, unlike God’s will

Pros: solves the problem of mind–body interaction via a causal intermediary (God)
Cons: rejects our causal intuitions; non-naturalistic

Question 3

What is the argument from pre-established harmony?

Answer 3

Mental and physical substances interact independently through mental-to-mental and physical-to-physical causation in a way that ensures that both remain
exactly in step (Leibniz’s ‘two clocks’ analogy).

Pros: solves the pairing problem
Cons: denies mind–body interaction; non-naturalistic

Question 4

What is epiphenomenalism?

Answer 4

Mental states are effects of, or constituted by, physical processes that generate mental phenomena as a causally inactive by-product

Pros: consistent with naturalism
Cons: denies that there is mental-to-physical causation; requires, though doesn’t explain, physical-to-mental causation