Property dualism - Mary's room / Knowledge argument Flashcards
1
Q
Who posed the knowledge argument?
A
Frank Jackson in his 1982 paper ‘Epiphenomenal Qualia’
2
Q
What’s the story of Mary’s room?
A
- Superscientist
- she can only see black and white
this means she knows all the physical facts about colour - she is then released from this room
- Will she gain new knowledge?
3
Q
How does this story argue for property dualism?
A
It relies on the assumption that we believe Mary gains new experience and knowledge when she leaves the room. This means there are areas of existence that cannot be explained through physical terms. Therefore, physicalism is false.
4
Q
What is the formal argument for Mary’s Room?
A
P1: Mary knows all of the physical facts about colour
P2: when she is released from her room, she gains new knowledge.
P3: She gains knowledge that does not fit into physical law.
P4: there is a part of existence that is not physical.
C: Therefore, physicalism is false.
