Philosophy of Mind Practice Questions Flashcards
Do the problems with substance dualism (non-reductive) outweigh the reasons for accepting it?
.- Possible Answers
- Arguments
- Your answer/Your reasons/arguments
Do the problems with logical behaviorism (analytically (and ontologically) reductive) outweigh the reasons for accepting it?
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Do the problems with identity theory (ontologically reductive but not analytically reductive) outweigh the reasons for accepting it?
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Do the problems with machine functionalism (mental states are reducible to a causal role) outweigh the reasons for accepting it?
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Do the problems with eliminative materialism (“there’s nothing to reduce”) outweigh the reasons for accepting it?
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Does the existence of consciousness (mental states with qualia and intentionality) disprove reductive materialist/physicalist theories (i.e. is it irreducible (ontologically))?
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Are zombies possible? What are the implications of the answer?
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Does the ‘knowledge/Mary argument’ disprove reductive materialist/physicalist theories?
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Could artificial intelligence/computers/robots be truly intelligent (where this will depend on what is meant by intelligent)?
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Is non-reductive materialism (biological naturalism - consciousness is supervenient upon the brain) a consistent theory? Is it just reductive materialist or non-reductive dualist (and so suffers from their respective problems)?
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Can any non-reductive theory successfully explain mental causation (substance or property versions of interactionist / epiphenomenalist / overdeterminist dualism)?
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Can all forms of materialism successfully explain mental causation (specifically do behaviourism and eliminative materialism give a satisfactory explanation)?
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If dualism is true, can we be sure that others have minds (and if so that they have minds like our own)?
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If materialism is true can we be sure that others have minds (and if so that they have minds like our own)?
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Overall: do you think that the reasons to place the mind as part of the physical world (e.g. interaction issues) outweigh the reasons for saying it is non-physical (i.e. the alleged differences between the mind and the physical - the indivisible/zombie/Mary/qualia/intentionality issues)?
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