SDA - Dualism

Question 1

what is dualism

Answer 1

• there is a separate mind and body but are connected
• there are distinct physical and mental substances

Question 2

why do dualists believe in this theory

Answer 2

• evidence for physical and mental world eg emotion and conscience
• rich complicated mental life
• difference between mind and body substance

Question 3

plato and the soul

Answer 3

• believes in green PSYCHE, soul separate from the body
• soul is different to the body
• ‘I’ does not mean the body, as it comes from the mind/soul
• paradigm shift –> new way of thinking

Question 4

plato and tripartite soul

Answer 4

• soul is made of 3 parts
• rational: concerned with truth and logical thinking
• spirited part is concerned with passions like anger
• appetite: bodily desire
• believes reason is the strongest element of this
• your essence is your soul and the whole goal is to return to the world of forms
• eg like escaping rebirth to be with God with Mukti, or going to heaven

Question 5

the realm of forms and plato

Answer 5

• what we see are imperfect copies of perfect forms of concepts
• for philosophers, reason is the part of the soul that can perceive the world of forms
• we do not see this perfect truth due to ignorance
• philosophers are the only people that can see the world of forms

Question 6

plato and the chariot analogy

Answer 6

• white horse: spirit action and cooperation
• black horse: desire and a rebel
• reason =: the soul tries to stop these horses going in different directions to reach the world of forms

Question 7

the great circuit and plato

Answer 7

• soul is great chariot race around forms –> if you fail race (overcome by black horse), soul drops in body
• becoming a philosopher king is the best vs becoming a tyrant
• enlightenment of the world of forms is REMEMBERING PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
• soul is the only way to know WOF as it is from that world and pre-exists the body
• at death, soul separates from body and returns to world of forms
• dependent on knowledge, soul goes into world of forms or rejoins chariot race

Question 8

how does Plato’s dualist theory align with Buddhism

Answer 8

• buddha can see world of forms/nirvana through ultimate knowledge like philosophers
• chariot race is like reincarnation
• remember prior knowledge of WOF is like tathagatagarbha

Question 9

similarities between aristotles and platos ideas on the soul and body

Answer 9

• body is finite
• most important part of the soul is reaosn

Question 10

differences between aristotles and platos ideas on the soul and body

Answer 10

• plato: soul will endure and reach realm of forms
• opens possibility for life after death and reincarnation
• aristotle: soul is not immortal and dies when body dies

Question 11

descartes and substance of body and soul

Answer 11

• substance dualist
• extended substance: takes up space and has a form
• thinking does not have a substance but happens in the mind –> MIND IS DIFFERENT FROM MATTER (matter that makes up the body)
• mind can operate without body but body needs mind
• religion compatible –> mind = soul (due to religious pressures)

Question 12

mind and body connection with descartes

Answer 12

• brain: connection between mind and body –> but brain is not the mind
• mind is whole and indivisible, but body is parts and can be changed/cut up
• animals do not have minds/souls –> but aligns with Catholicism at the time (man is the only dualistic creature)
• interactionism: m and b are two different substances but interact in the pineal gland (now proven false)
• said it was the ‘principle seat of the soul’
• mind influences matter –> thinking of doing an action makes you do it

Question 13

what makes mind and body different descartes

Answer 13

• mind and soul are completely different substances
• can imagine that your body is not real, but not your mind as you are still thinking
• therefore body is not the same as the mind –> mind is too different
• mind is more real that body

Question 14

what are Descartes 3 arguments

Answer 14

1. argument from doubt
2. arguments from divisibility and indivisibility
3. argument from clear and distinct perception

Question 15

aristotle on the body and soul

Answer 15

• soul is structure of the body –> function and organisation
• reason: highest form of rationality (nous)
• soul is a form of the body –> sum total of the operations of a human being
• eg axe is just metal and wood without its purpose of cutting things
• importance is telos of something
• body and soul are not separate but one thing, different aspects
• does not believe in immortality of the soul –> cannot exist without the body
• this may not apply to reason

Question 16

descartes argument from doubt

Answer 16

• you can imagine your body not existing but not your mind, as you continue to think
• mind is therefore on a higher level than body –> separate levels of substance/importance
• therefore they are different

Question 17

strengths and weaknesses of descartes’ argument from D

Answer 17

• anyone can do the thought experiment –> intuitively reasonable
• consistent with religion
• aligns with views on personhood

BUT
- from a materialist perspective: origin of thinking comes from brain –> a material part of body (not separate)
- argument does not prove that anyone else has a mind
- gilbert ryle: ghost in the machine –> concept of thinking thing does not mean it is a reality

Question 18

descartes argument for divisibility and indivisibility

Answer 18

• brain and mind are two distinct substances
• essential property of physical things is extension –> anything that can be extended can be divided
• mind is not extendable and therefore indivisible
• using LEIBNIZ’S LAW, if they are the same, they would have the same properties

Question 19

for and against from argument from divisibility and indivisibility

Answer 19

FOR
- descartes –> mind= consciousnesses
- emotions/perceptions/feelings are not different parts, but different modes

AGAINST
- mind can be divided into memory perception, emotion etc
- actual divisions of the mind are possible due to 2 hemispheres of the brain (empirical scientific evidence)

Question 20

descartes arguments from clear and distinct perception

Answer 20

• I have a clear idea of myself as a thinking non-extended thing –> I do not take up time and space
• body is a non thinking extended thing –> M and B are seperate
• because they are not identical they are separate
• contrast with triangle and 3 sides, cannot separate this

Question 21

strengths and weaknesses of clear and distinct perception

Answer 21

FOR
- triangle analogy is easy to understand

AGAINST
- masked man: can believe him to not be your father but he is
- can accidently conceive impossible

Question 22

how does DESCARTES see the body soul relationship

Answer 22

• a problem of interaction of material and immaterial
• INTERACTIONISM: mind and body can causally influence eachother –> mental and physical
• no evidence for his version of where they connect –> pineal gland but proved to be associated with melatonin and sleep
• CAUSAL INTERACTIONISM

Question 23

how does MATERIALISM see the body soul relationship

Answer 23

• no D and S relationship as there is no S
• ideas on immortal soul is wishful thinking
• functionalism: how mind functions, as mind is established as purely matter
• same substance –> brain = computer

Question 24

how does MONISM see the body soul relationship

Answer 24

• we are one substance with 2 aspects to eachother
• joined together –> close to aristotles view
• a person is one thing –> body = physical and mind non physical
• relationship between one substance

Question 25

Problem with Descartes INTERACTIONISM

Answer 25

• does not show how it takes place
• modern anatomy shows pineal gland is linked to melatonin and sleep production
• working with 17th century mechanist view of universe - science is primitive