The mind body problem is a category error - SM&B Flashcards
What is the mind-body problem
The mind-body problem is about how the mind and body relate to one
DEFINE - substance dualism / materialism / category error
Substance dualism: The mind and body both exist as two separate and distinct realities
Materialism: Only physical matter exists
Category error: A problem of language that arises when things are talked about as if they belong to one category when they in fact belong to another
Section 1: theme
Descartes - hyperbolic doubt
Section 1: AO1
HYPERBOLIC DOUBT
Descartes is a substance dualist as he argues that the soul and body are two separate substances. After going through a process of hyperbolic doubt (possible to doubt all as there could be an evil demon controlling us) arrived at the first certainty that the only thing that we can be sure about is our thinking. The mind was where this ‘thinking’ took place and so Descartes decided the mind must be the essence of himself and that he must exist. The body and mind must be separate as whilst the mind can be proven the body cannot.
Section 1: AO2 FOR
HYPERBOLIC DOUBT
The thinking mind is an immaterial substance which is the real me. The mind directs the actions of the body, so talking about body and mind as separate substances helps to understand personhood and what makes me ‘me’.
Section 1: AO2 AGAINST
HYPERBOLIC DOUBT
1) Personhood involves every aspect of physical and mental. The thinking part of ‘me’ is not something that can be categorized and separated. It would be like a ghost (non-physical) trying to work a machine (physical) – it could not work.
2) Bernard Williams – identity comes from body and is also make a vital part of what it is to be human. For example if you saw your classmates in 30 years you wouldn’t just recognise them for there mind but also from their bodily characteristics.
Section 2: theme
Descartes divisible vs indivisible
Section 2: AO1
DIVISIBLE/INDIVISIBLE
The physical body and the mind are completely different types of substances – one is physical, the other is spiritual or immaterial. Descartes argues that this is because the body can be divided into parts and even have parts removed but the same mind thinks, wills, motivates, etc. These mental processes and causes are very different from physical sensations and movements so must be distinct
Section 2: AO2 FOR
DIVISIBLE/INDIVISIBLE
As a thinking being, I consider myself to be a whole person. The mind, or consciousness, is the part of me that holds the essence of personhood. For example, someone given a face or body transplant is the same person because their mind is the same
Section 2: AO2 AGAINST
DIVISIBLE/INDIVISIBLE
1) This use of language is inaccurate; it is a category error because the body and mind cannot be described in the same way.
2) It would be like someone asking, ‘where is the team spirit?’ in a game of cricket – it is not another type of physical object or person. Using the phrase in this way is a category mistake, an error in logical use of language
3) G.E.M Anscombe - mind and body are linked. As although pointing at something is meaningless without the intention behind the action we need the body to perform the action. Both would be meaningless without the other. Two parts are linked and not separate
Section 3: theme
Materialism
Section 3: AO1
MATERIALISM
Dawkins distinguishes between two types of soul
Soul one – a prehistoric idea used to explain life after death – a mystic lifeforce
Soul two – is the metaphorical ideal of the soul which is where the essence of our humanity is. For example, someone might say “I felt that in my soul” where they use the term “soul” metaphorically for deep human feelings rather than something which is non-physical
Section 3: AO2 FOR
MATERIALISM
If there is nothing more to personhood then the body and the brain then there is no need for the afterlife. This solves problems such as how can I survive my death.
Section 3: AO2 AGAINST
MATERIALISM
Dawkins claims that one day scientists will be able to fully understand consciousness is an assumption. He is filling the gaps in scientific knowledge with the assumption that materialism holds the answers. This is the same as those who fill the gap with the idea of an immaterial soul
Perhaps need to understand the soul in more of an Aristotelian sense of the soul as more than just a metaphor and rather as an immaterial essence that it fundamental to our being. This escapes the CE criticism as the Ghost and the machine is disanalogous to Aristotle’s soul.
-Strong as Ghost and the machine oversimplifies as humans have consciousness yet are cells are not alive
-Consciousness is a real thing and property yet immaterial
