Substance dualism

Question 1

Define the mind body problem

Answer 1

The problem of describing and explaining the relationship between our mental states and physical states

Question 2

Define the hard problem of consciousness

Answer 2

The problem of analysing and explaining the phenomenal properties of consciousness, what it is like to undergo a conscious experience

Question 3

Define phenomenal consciousness

Answer 3

A form of consciousness with a subjective experiential quality as involved in perception, sensation and emotion. Awareness of ‘ what it is like ‘ to experience such a mental phenomena

Question 4

Define Intentionality

Answer 4

The property of the mental states whereby they are directed towards an intentional object. For example, a belief that Paris is the capital of France is about Paris.

Question 5

How do intentional states represent the world

Answer 5

in particular and partial ways

Question 6

Define aspectual shape

Answer 6

The way the intentional object is represented

Question 7

Define phenomenal properties

Answer 7

Are the properties of an experience which gives it its distinctive experiential quality, and which are apprehended in phenomenal consciousness

Question 8

What is Qualia

Answer 8

Phenomenal properties understood as intrinsic, non-intentional and introspectively accessible properties of mental states

Question 9

Define a substance and a property

Answer 9

Substance : an entity which does not friend upon another entity for it continued existence ( ontologically Independent)
Property: ontologically dependant on substances

Question 10

What is the essential property of mind ( substance dualism )

Answer 10

Thought , and essentially unified

Question 11

What is the essential property of body ( substance dualism )

Answer 11

Extension

Question 12

Descartes indivisibility arguent

Answer 12

1. My mind is essentially unified and so indivisible
2. Matter is not essentially unified and is infinitely divisible
3. Therefore, mind and matter are non-identical, distinct substances

Question 13

what is an international object?

Answer 13

It is what an intentional mental state represents

Question 14

What is Intentional content?

Answer 14

It is intentional object and aspectual shape

Question 15

What is aspectual shape?

Answer 15

The way the intentional object is represented

Question 16

What is attitude?

Answer 16

The psychological verb we would use for the intentional mental state

Question 17

What is substance dualism?

Answer 17

It is the view that mind and body are distinct, separate substances

Question 18

Leibniz’s law of indescernibility of identicals

Answer 18

If X and Y are identical, then X and Y have all their properties in common. Therefore, if X and Y have different properties, they are not identical

Question 19

Response to Descartes’s indivisibility: the mental is divisible in some sense

Answer 19

In certain cases mind can be divisible, and therefore is not “essentially unified and so indivisible” as Descartes states. Cases of mental illness: multiple personality syndrome might be used to suggest that the mind can be divided as certain parts of the mind are unable to communicate with others. Theories of the unconsciousness may also suggest that the mind does have parts - people may believe or desire one thing concussion but unconsciously believe or desire something really different

Question 20

Response to Descartes’s indivisibility: not everything thought of as physical is divisible

Answer 20

Disability may not be an essential property of physical substance as Descartes claims. Perhaps, the some physical things cannot be divided even in principle, regardless of what technology you use. For example, the smallest physical particles are best understood as packets of energy or force fields, then we cannot further divide these - you cannot have half a force field. Waves also cannot be divided spatially, but from a fundamental part of the partial universe.

Question 21

Descartes’ conceivability argument

Answer 21

1. I have clear and distinct idea of myself as something that thinks and isn’t extended
2. I have a clear and distinct idea of body as something that is extended and doesn’t think
3. If I have a clear and distinct thought of something, God can create it in a way that corresponds to my thought
   C1. Therefore, God can greater mind as something that thinks and isn’t extended and body as extended and doesn’t think
   C2. Therefore, mind and body can exist independently of one another
   C3. Therefore, mind and body are two distinct substances