mind brain identity theory Flashcards
what is the claim of mind-identity theory?
the mind is the brain
- facts about the mind are reducible to facts about the brain
what is being claimed?
the mind and the brain happen as a matter of empirical fact to be the same
- it is not something that can be demonstrated a priori because the mind is the brain is not to say that the terms mind and brain are synonymous.
brains have physical properties of size and weight, the neurophysiological properties (synaptic connections) are also physical properties.
what are ontological reductions?
they involve showing that beings or entities of one kind are in reality the same as entities of another kind
- e.g. water = H2O
what is the science argument that supports identity theory?
it is hard to imagine that an immaterial substance should become attached to our brains at some point during our evolutionary history
- brain scans show that certain mental states correspond to specific neural activity
when someone is in pain, we can see activity in the c-fibres of the brain.
how does ockham’s razor support?
identity theory avoids the complexity of dualism by saying that only ONE kind of thing exists - physical matter
this makes it simpler and more scientific
what is the multiple realisability argument?
if mental states are identical to specific brain states, then only creatures with the same brain structure as humans could have the same mental experiences
- different species (dogs) may feel pain or think even thought their brains are wired differently
- if pain = c-fibres activated in humans, does that mean that other animals cannot feel pain?
what is the problem of qualia?
quali are the personal, subjective experiences of mental states (feels like)
- neuroscience can explain which neurons fire when we taste chocolate, but it cannot explain why it tastes a certain way to us
this suggests that there is something about consciousness that goes beyong physical brain states
what is the knowledge argument (mary’s argument)?
mary has lived her entire life in a black and white room but knows everything there is to know about colour vision scientifically
- she sees red for the first time and even thuought she knew all the physical facts about colour, she learns something new (qualia)
and this suggests that there are aspects of the mind that cannot be explained by physical brain states
