Self and Life after death Flashcards
who had a materialist monist view
Aristotle
what was Aristotles view
all human life had a soul
soul principle of life- essence form of the body, couldn’t function without body
human soul alone - capable of rational thought to develop moral and intellectual capacity
1 part of soul immortal
Analysis of Aristotles view - 2
1 church - death of body doesn’t mean death of soul
does place emphasis on body - physical ressurection 1 corth 15
2 appeals to scientists who don’t see need for spirit
strength of Aristotles view
based on what you can see so people can believe
dual aspect monism
1.claims human is one entity which is unknown
2. mind and matter two aspects of one
3. soft materialism - humans are 1 entity - body and soul/ mind the two are inextricably linked
4. brain is physical consists of subjective consciousness. relates quail something can’t be reduced to chemical processes in the brain
5. physical and immaterial as important inter related aspects of the identity of the human being
analysis on dual aspect monism
1 seen to solve problems of dualism and hard materialism allows for survival of self in some way
2. process theology - objective immortality everyone experiences be remembered forever in mind of God - rules out personal survival of death
3. other christians see resurrected body and soul
physicalism mean
everything can be explained in terms if matter
mind is one
no such thing as soul
reductionist view - everything can be reduced down to physical cause
functionalism
type of physicalism
the mind is the function of the brain that processes information from sense experience generates an appropriate response may be possible in feature to access someone mind and upload it onto computer
who had a hard materialist and functionalist view
Dawkins
what was Dawkins view - 6
1 rejects concept of immortal soul
2 humans are survival machines a triumph of evolution life summed up in bytes of digital information
3 Body carrier of DNA purpose and ensure survival of itself selfish gene
4 humans exist for gene preservation
only way we survive death is in DNA we pass on
5 allows soul to refer to higher intellectual power can’t be separated from brain
6 insists there is no meaning to life other than preservation of genes
what is Dawkins conclusion
evolution won’t develop like it has
evolution of consciousness been removed needs for gene replications a meme
what is a meme
unit of cultural ideas, symbols or practises can be transmitted from one mind to other some would say it is similar to concept of soul
analysis of Dawkins
- highly derminist
- consicenosness differenti to brain
- makes sweeping statements not objectively true argument about memes unscientific
who accused descarte of making a critical error
what was the analogy
Gilbert Ryle
analogy of been shown round Cambridge uni
argued d had confused functioning of a physical Brian and body with ghost in machine
a machine does not work because of a ghost within it. neither does body live because it has a mind
who challenged Descartes argument
Hume
what did Hume say
since the soul is not located space how do we know there is one
idea of self as an illusion there is thinking but no I that thinks
body soul relationship according to Descartes interactionsm - 2
1locates soul in pineal glans
location of imagination and common sense - a link body and mind
part of brain unknown
2. body and mind are interact cause events happe in each other
analysis of body soul relationship according to Descartes interactionsm -2
- location has been discredited pineal glands - hormonal function
2, still doesn’t help with how it occurs
who was as substance dualist
descarte
what does Descarte say
what was his 3 arguments
body and soul are distinct substances with different properties
arguments from doubts
argument from divisibility and non divisibility
arguments from clear and distinct perception
arguments from doubts
could doubt existence of his body he could not doubt his existence as a thinking being. I think therefore I am. His thinking being different to his body
arguments from divisibility and non divisibility
all bodies take space so divisible. mental states don’t so non divisible
arguments from clear and distinct perception
think a thinking being his body non thinking being could exist he was distinct from his body - body decays - mind imortal
analysis of arguments from doubts
most view conscience as a product of brain science links together
who was a dualist
plato
body soul relationship - plato
body can change - distracts the soul from spiritual truth
soul spearate from body - come from world of forms soul gives life to body - spectre
body soul relationship - plato analysis 2
1 modern scientists mind and body are interrelated
near death experience - survival of consciousness
2 most people think whole body integrated some relate idea of body not being what they are
dualist meaning
body and soul are separate
plato
what was analogy
thinks body is gross and soul is pure
analogy of charioteer
1 rational part - charioteer - immortal
2. spirited part - white horse - emotions
3. appetitive part - black horse - dies with body
analysis of plato - 3
1 some overlap christian thought
2 Catholic Church - separation of soul and body - another world after death
3 some christians have been influenced in early church
what are the 3 different types of personal identity
- personal identity as physical - physicalist brain essential being a person. bodies change
- personal identity is metaphysical - dualist, unchanged conscious awareness of person
- personal identity is metaphysical - dualist, unchanged conscious awareness of person
what is John Hick
soft materialist
what is hicks theory
- rejects religion without afterlife
- exact replica
can link to 1 Corth 15- spiritual bodies, spiritual world, same pant but different
analogy of John smith
what are the 3 scenarios allowing continuity of identity, initial person and replica in Hicks theory
- living person transported from 1 place to other
- Dead person 1 place appearance replica in other
- dead person on earth resurrected person in another sphere
what is a strength of Hicks theory - 3
supported by st Paul resurrected theory
comforting allows for life after death
avoids problem of Dualism
what is a weakness of Hicks theory - 2
no evidence - thought experiment
god could create more then one replica
what was plato’s argument for immorality of the soul
argument for soul - from knowledge
soul pre existent with forms have memories of absolutes.
argument for life after death - argument from opposites - plato thought that everything comes into existence from its opposite our world full of opportunities since there is living must be death
what is the analogy of Big Ben striking the hour
when strikes 1 and 2 separate events in space time
observers knows it second - conscience for both
same self for both - memory dependant on I being self aware
campbell - mere thinking never relate the connection between two strikes. requires a conscious self aware mind a substantial self
what are the accounts for life after death - 5
an out of body experience
tunnel of light
heavenly experience - meeting loved ones
feelings of peace and love
new set of values/ outlook
who is a possible of psychological continuity after death
parfits bundle theory
what is parfits bundle theory
no such thing as a person in existence in the world
person a bundle or collection of mental events
continuity after death is physchological connectedness
influence someone in life can continue after death as long as person remembers
person not an individual ever changing state of being
what is a functionalists view of psychological continuity after death
metaphor of computer works as input, processing and output of information speak of mental processes being the brain processing inputted sense experiences leading to behaviour as outputting of that process
what is a problem with parfits theory?
that thoughts and ideas can exist without a thinker
doesn’t explain consciousness
