Question 2: Problem of Other Minds

Question 1

Problem of Other Minds (argument)

Answer 1

1) If SD is correct, then it’s possible for all the human bodies around you to lack minds & yet behave just as they do
2) If that’s possible, then you have no evidence of other minds
3) But, we do have evidence of other minds
4) So, SD isn’t correct.

Question 2

Behaviorism

Answer 2

Mental states are behavior or dispositions to behavior. Something is in pain only if, and because, it is crying or wincing or…

Question 3

Problem of Other Minds: premise (1)

Answer 3

1) If SD is correct, then it’s possible for all the human bodies around you to lack minds & yet behave just as they do

explain:
(diagram of overdetermination) if you erased the mind, there would still be sufficient cause for brain states.
Everyone could be a physical robot which behaves like someone with a mind

Question 4

Problem of Other Minds: premise (2)

Answer 4

2) If that’s possible, then you have no evidence of other minds

explain:
You could look at the “brains” of these robots and see neurons firing but never be able to confirm that they have immaterial minds.

Question 5

Problem of Other Minds: premise (3)

Answer 5

3) but, we do have evidence of other minds

Intuition.

Question 6

Evaluate the claim that behaviorism avoids the Problem of Other Minds.

Answer 6

It avoids the problem of other minds, because it says that behavior IS the mind. So if a robot was exhibiting a physical state which gave rise to behavior, the behaviorist would insist that the robot does have a mind - since behavior=mind.

Question 7

Objection to the claim that behaviorism avoids the Problem of Other Minds.

Answer 7

It seems absurd that any robot which can perform behaviors has a mind. So the behaviorist will need to be more specific about what or how many behaviors are required to have a mind.

Question 8

Argument by Analogy

Answer 8

1) My body has a mind
2) My body is similar to other bodies around me
3) The other bodies around me have minds

Question 9

Objection to argument by analogy

Answer 9

1. What are the similarities?
2. Are those relevant
3. Are there any relevant dissimilarities?