Soul, Mind And Body

Question 1

Define Soul

Answer 1

This is a subjective answer, as it is often (but not always) understood as the physical essence of a person

Question 2

Define materialism

Answer 2

The view that one kind of existence is physical substance

I.e the mind can only be explained by physcial terms as chemical activity

Question 3

Define Monoism

Answer 3

The view that there is one kind of existence

I.e one substance not two

Question 4

What is the difference between SUBSTANCE DUALISM + DUALISM ?

Answer 4

Substance dualism is the idea that the 2 elements (body and soul) are wholly different substances

Dualism is the belief in 2 separate elements the body and the soul

Question 5

Difference between : REDUCTIONISM and BEHAVIOURISM

Answer 5

Reductionism

The idea that everything can be reduced to statements about the physical bodies
I.e mental events are identical with physical occurrences in the brain

Behaviourism

All mental states are simply learned behaviours

Question 6

Define Category error

Answer 6

This is an error that arises when things are talked about as though / if they belong to one category, when in fact they belong to another

Question 7

Plato on the Soul

Answer 7

Plato believed the soul and body are separate [the body is temporary and the soul is permanent].
The idea that the soul is temporarily united w the physcial body and movs on at the end of life

Phaedo - Dialogue by Plato

• character Socrates presents Plato view of immortality of the soul
• Socrates argued the soul continues to live on as simply intelligence and thought - in order to reach the form of the good
• Plato believed the soul is necessary and animates a person (essence)

Attempts to justify the immortality of the soul

Question 8

What does Phaedo write about Socrates death ?

Answer 8

“ the soul is the very likeness of the divine… the body is the very likeness of the human”

• this explains that the soul existed before time and the body is only earthly

Question 9

Plato : meno the slave boy

Answer 9

Plato uses the example of a slave boy ‘Men’ deprived of knowledge and understanding

• Plato’s point is that the slave boy uses his pre-birth knowledge
• Human intuition is evidnece of knowledge attained pre birth [ which is evidence of the soul’s immortality lived in the perfect forms ]

Question 10

Plato : Charioteer example

Answer 10

Plato used the metaphor of the charriot pulled by appetite and emotion, controlled by reason

[appetite being bodily desires (towards horaton) / emotions being virtues (towards Noeton) / charioteer rational element that helps control the two]

In order, for the tripartite view to work we must have an equal balance

Question 11

Difference between : HORATON + NOETON ?

Answer 11

Horaton

[Realm of appearances, our world of senses (changing, decaying world)]
- requirement of food
- fears
- diseases
- love and lusts
[All of these distract and take away from our reason]

Noeton

[Realm of reality (world of forms) true knowledge unchanging]

Question 12

Quotes about the body : Plato & HORATON

Answer 12

“ the body is the source of endless troubles to men”

“ takes away from us all power of thinking of all “

Question 13

What were some of Plato’s beliefs about the relationship about the body and the soul ?

Answer 13

Plato was not very clear with this, which is the main problem

• ultimately, the soul desires to get out of the body and return t realm of forms, but will still survive on earth
  -Plato seems to confuse reasons with causes
  -

Question 14

What did each of PLATO’S dialogues attempt to show ?

Answer 14

• both meno- the slave boy and myth of er, both attempt to demonstrate the IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL
• the charioteer example is to further explain how he viewed the soul (controlled by appetite and emotions but guided by reason)

Question 15

Plato : strengths and weaknesses