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Conceptual & Historical Issues in Psychology > The Mind-Body Problem Today > Flashcards

The Mind-Body Problem Today Flashcards

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1
Q

What is dualism?

A

The argument that the mind and body are 2 separate substances

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2
Q

What is monism?

A

The argument that the mind and body are one substance

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3
Q

What was Descartes’ view on the mind-body problem? What type of dualism is this?

A

He argued that the mind and body were made up of 2 separate things. This is known as substance dualism.

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4
Q

What is parallellism? Who argued in favour of this?

A

A form of dualism where the mind and body do not interact directly but live separate, parallel lives that are both caused by God.
Leibniz argued in favour of this.

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5
Q

What are the 3 property dualisms?

A
  1. Epi-phenomenalism
  2. Pan-psychism
  3. Emergent materialism
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6
Q

What are the 4 physicalisms?

A
  1. Identity theory
  2. Functionalism
  3. Eliminative materialism
  4. Behaviourism
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7
Q

What are 5 schools of continental philosophy that discuss the mind-body problem?

A
  1. Existentialism
  2. Phenomenology
  3. Structuralism
  4. Psychoanalytic theory
  5. Critical theory
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8
Q

Epi-phenomenalism:
Who proposed it?
What is it?

A

In epi-phenomenalism, the physical brain causes mental states.
BUT mental states have no causal role in changing physical states.
This was proposed by Huxley.

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9
Q

What are 3 arguments FOR epi-phenomenalism?

A

Neuropsychology - many reactions and functions don’t require conscious awareness

Behaviourism - there has been great progress made without even referring to the mind

Neurophysiology - conscious awareness may come long after the brain states that cause it (Libet)

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10
Q

What are 4 arguments AGAINST epi-phenomenalism?

A

Evolutionary - if the mind has no causal role, then why has it evolved?

Interaction - the same problem as with substance dualism - how do mind & body interact?

Logical - how can we know about the existence of the mind, if the mind can’t affect the brain?

Empirical - even Libet claimed that we have a ‘conscious veto’ over our actions.

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11
Q

Pan-psychism:
What is it?
Who proposed it?

A

The idea that there are mental properties in EVERYTHING and mind is a non-physical property of all matter.
This was proposed by Nagel.

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12
Q

What were Nagel’s 4 premises for pan-psychism? What was his conclusion? What problem does it solve?

A
  1. Everything is physical
  2. But also, the mind is real (just in a different way)
  3. Mind can’t be reduced to physical states
  4. Mind can’t emerge from physical states

His conclusion was: all matter must have mind.

This solves the hard problem of consciousness (how does the brain produce consciousness?).

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13
Q

What were 3 arguments AGAINST pan-psychism?

A
  1. Empirical: it can’t (yet) be tested scientifically
  2. Meaningless: worse than un-testable, it’s not even a theory yet (Searle)
  3. Pan-psychists reply saying there is no evidence against it, and it is elegant
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14
Q

Emergent materialism:
What is it?
Who proposed it?

A

The idea that there are causal relationships between the body and the mind.
All mental states are caused by a physical state. Mental states do not always cause mental states
Mind depends on, but is not the same as, the body.

This was proposed by Chalmers.

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15
Q

What is an argument for emergent dualism?

A

Physical properties can be described at multiple levels.
Eg. Water.
- The properties of snowflakes/tsunamis can’t be derived from those of H2O.
These higher-level properties emerge from the lower-level properties, within the constraints of a particular physical system.

So… Can you explain consciousness in terms on singular neurones? No.

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16
Q

What are 2 arguments against emergent materialism?

A
  1. Higher-level properties do emerge from lower-level ones, but they are still physical properties.
  2. Kim’s argument of over-determination
    (physical states only need physical causes, not also mental).
    If mental states cause physical states, then mental states must be physical states.
17
Q

Identity theory:
What is it?
Who proposed it?

A

The idea that mental states are identical to physical states.
This was proposed by Place.

18
Q

What is an argument FOR identity theory?

A

Accepting that we refer to the brain & mind differently, brain science has & will show us that physical states are just the same thing as mental states.

19
Q

What are 2 arguments AGAINST identity theory?

A
  1. If brain states and mind states are identical, then different brain states must give different mind states.
    BUT that denies the possibility that two (slightly) different brains (or organisms, or machines) could have the same mental states.
    - Means that artificial intelligence cannot be explained
  2. It doesn’t explain qualia - how it feels, subjectively, to be in particular mental states.
20
Q

Functionalism:
What is it?
Who proposed it?

A

Mental states consist of a set of functional relationships with sensory inputs, other states, & behavioural outputs.
So long as these functional relationships are preserved, mental states are present.
(allows for AI)

This was proposed by Putnam.

21
Q

What are arguments FOR functionalism?

A
  1. Supports idea of artificial intelligence
  2. Eg. Pacemakers/cochlear implants
  3. Unlike radical behaviourism, functionalism accepts that mental states exist & have causal roles
22
Q

What are 4 arguments AGAINST functionalism?

A
  1. Block’s China brain argument
  2. Searle’s Chinese room argument (can process the info but doesn’t mean we understand it)
  3. Seeing blue when everyone else sees red, this doesn’t change anything - functional states could still be preserved with this inverted spectrum
  4. Zombies
23
Q

Eliminative materialism:
What is it?
Who proposed it?

A

We are using the wrong concepts to talk about mind & brain.
In time, these concepts will be replaced, refined, or revised
When they are, the mind-body problem will no longer be a problem.

This was proposed by Churchland.

24
Q

What is an argument FOR eliminative materialism?

A
  1. The history of science is full of concepts which have been eliminated (eg. heat > kinetic energy). This is expected to happen with the mind-body debate.

(Just because we feel there is a mind-body problem, & cannot imagine its solution, that is just our failure to imagine).

25
Q

What are arguments AGAINST eliminative materialism?

A

Intuition: This just feels wrong

Logical: Eliminative materialism is a belief. Beliefs are mental states. Beliefs exist, ∴ eliminative materialism is false

Qualia: (as always) - some philosophers insist that subjective phenomena can’t be explained away

Conceptual & Historical Issues in Psychology (6 decks)

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