Substance Dualism

Question 1

Who came up with Substance Dualism

Answer 1

Rene Descartes in his works ‘Meditations’

Question 2

How did he come up with theory

Answer 2

• Doubted everything (physical/ experience etc.)

- Could not doubt the mind

Question 3

What is the mind according to Descartes

Answer 3

• Separate non-physical substance that intertwines with the physical

Question 4

What are the 3 criticisms of Cartersian Dualism

Answer 4

1) Problem of other minds
2) Solipsism
3) Mind-Body Problem

Question 5

Outline the Problem of other minds WITH response

Answer 5

• Cant have phenomenological experience of other minds
• Other people could just be philosophical zombies
• WITTGENSTEIN- we react as though others have minds aswell (BUT DOESNT MEAN IT IS TRUE)
• Argument from analogy (people made of same ‘stuff’ as us, logical to believe they also have mind

Question 6

Outline Solopsism

Answer 6

• Sensations can NOT be experienced by others

- Ours is the only mind that exists

Question 7

Outline the mind-body problem

Answer 7

• How do we only have ONE experience if we have TWO substances
• RYLE ‘category mistake’ to suppose mind (non physical) can effect the physical, mind is nothing more than a ‘ghost in the machine’

Question 8

What is EPIPHENOMENALISM

Answer 8

-Mental events are caused by physical events in the brain, but have no effects upon any physical events.