Self, Death and Afterlife Flashcards
The nature and existence of the soul, Descartes argument for the existence of the soul
What does Descartes say about the existence of the soul?
- Two essential substances; mind, and matter.
o Matter is res extensa, extended substance.
o Mind is res cognita, mental substance.
The nature and existence of the soul, Descartes argument for the existence of the soul
What are Descartes’s 3 arguments regarding the existence of the soul?
- Argument from doubt,
o I can doubt that my body exists, but I cannot doubt that I am a thinking thing, therefore ‘I’ am not the same as my body.
o However, most modern philosophers believe the ‘mind’ is produced by the brain, so brain and body are the same. - Argument from Divisibility and Non-Divisibility,
o All bodies are extended in space and so are divisible, minds are not extended in space and so are not divisible, minds are therefore different from bodies.
o However, neuroscience shows that there is a close correlation between mind and brain if brain is damaged, then mind is damaged, so it can be divided. - Argument from Clear and Distinct Perception,
o I have a CDP of ‘myself’ as a non-extended thinking thing, I have a CDP of my body as a non-extended non-thinking thing, so ‘I’ and my body can exist apart from each other, so ‘I’ am not my body.
o However this presupposes belief in God.
The nature and existence of the soul, Descartes argument for the existence of the soul
What are the problems with Descartes Dualism?
- Ryle, Ghost and the Machine, category error.
- Hume, problem of counting souls.
The body-soul relationship
Descartes interactionism
What is Descartes Interactionism?
- Descartes thought that body and soul interacted in the pineal gland, but interactionism solves nothing: saying where interaction might take place tells us nothing about how a non-physical mind can interact with a physical brain.
The body-soul relationship
Physicalism
What is Physicalism?
- No body-soul relationship because there is no soul.
- Physicalism is reductive and thus the mind is just the brain.
- Reinforced by dementia which effects both mind and brain.
The body-soul relationship
Physicalism
What is Functionalism?
- Type of Physicalism.
- Reductionism, systems function can be determined from its inputs and outputs.
- Mind can be uploaded to computer.
The body-soul relationship
Physicalism
What problems with Dualism does Physicalism show?
- The problem of how non-physical minds can interact with physical bodies.
- The fact that it seems obvious to most people that matter and mind are inextricably linked.
- The fact that drugs clearly affect the mind.
The body-soul relationship
Physicalism
How is dualism still valid?
- Most dualists think mind and matter are not the same.
- Religiously popular with soul.
- Near death experiences point to dualism.
Physicalism
Dual-aspect Monism (DAM)
What is DAM?
- Only one kind of substance.
- Mind and brain are two aspects of the same substance.
Physicalism
Dual-aspect Monism (DAM)
What are the strengths of DAM?
- DAM avoids Descartes problem of how the non-physical minds interact with physical bodies because there is only one substance.
- DAM has no problems with qualia.
- DAM is supported by quantum physics where there is light with two aspects, as a particle, and as a wave.
The Possibility of Continuing personal existence after death
What are the different possibilities of continuing personal existence after death?
- Personal identity as physical.
- Personal identity as metaphysical.
- Personal identity as psychological continuity of personality and memory.
The Possibility of Continuing personal existence after death
What are the different views on continuing personal existence after death as physical?
- Russell states the ‘common sense’ views of physicalists, that persons are reducible to matter, so there is no physical existence after death.
- Functionalists, continuity through uploading of mind to computer.
o However, difficult to prove. - Hick, Replica Theory.
o God resurrects a replica of the human body-soul.
o Mr X shows that resurrection is logically possible.
o However, infinite number of Mr X’s, which one is the ‘I’. Sameness.
The Possibility of Continuing personal existence after death
What are the different views on continuing personal existence after death as metaphysical?
- Price, community of disembodied Cartesian-type souls, who would communicate telepathically and project images of themselves to other disembodied souls.
o However, sameness. - Plato, soul is immaterial and simple so it cannot be destroyed at death.
o However, simple soul, sameness. - Swinburne, light bulb.
o However, sameness. - Reincarnation of the soul.
o Hinduism, karma.
o Past life recall.
o NDE’s.
The Possibility of Continuing personal existence after death
What are the different views on continuing personal existence after death as psychological continuity of personality and memory?
- Parfit’s Bundle Theory, live on through memory of friends.
- Process Theology, live on as a part of God, as a part of the universe which is a part of him through the panentheistic nature of God and the Universe.
