The Mind-Body Problem: Dualism Versus Monism

This academic lecture material focuses on the Mind-Body Problem in psychology and philosophy, contrasting the historical and theoretical perspectives of Dualism and Monism. The content first establishes the philosophical roots of the problem, tracing back to Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and his early dualistic view of Forms versus Particulars, and then explores Aristotle’s more integrated, monistic-leaning views on the soul and body. The presentation moves forward to the Renaissance to examine Rene Descartes’ Substance Dualism, discussing its influential nature and the major challenge posed by the Interaction Problem. Finally, the lecture introduces various forms of Monism, including Logical Behaviourism and Physicalism (Identity Theory), using modern neuroscientific evidence to support materialist explanations while also acknowledging the enduring philosophical challenges like Leibnitz’s Law and the Problem of Consciousness.

Philosophy

The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge and reality

Epistemology

Theories about the nature of knowledge

Doctrine

A set of beliefs about a certain issue/topic

Universals

Properties shared by different things

Zietgeist

The idea that the focus of psychology is a product of its time and the surrounding societal conditions

Mind-Body Problem

The philosophical question about the relationship between the body and the mind, and if they are distinct or not

Dualism

Assumes the mind and body are two distinct substances

Monism

Only one type of substance exists—either only the mind or only the body

Plato's Theory of Forms vs. Particulars

• Forms (The real truth): Objects of knowledge that are conceived, perfect, certain, non-physical, and beyond change

• Particulars (Our perceptions): Objects of opinion that are perceived, imperfect, uncertain, physical, and always changing

Nativist

Assumes certain knowledge is innate rather than being acquired through learning.

Aristotle's view on the soul/mind

"The soul is not separable from the body"

• Forms exist within particulars

Cartesian/Substance Dualism

René Descartes' position that the mind and material world are two distinct substances with different essences. The essence of the mind is 'thinking' (consciousness), while the essence of physical things is 'extension' (occupying 3D space

René Descartes

Creator/Philosopher behind Cartesian/Substance Dualism

Interactionism Problem for Cartesian Dualism

How can a non-physical mind cause physical events in the body (and vice versa)?. This raises questions about free will, because if the mind cannot cause the body to move, we cannot make choices

Property Dualism

A weaker version of dualism proposing that the mind and body are not different substances, but that the body possesses both physical and mental properties. Consciousness is seen as a new property that emerges from the interaction of many neurons

Gilbert Ryle's "Category Mistake"

Cartesian Dualism inappropriately treats the 'mind' as being in the same category as the physical body, like a "ghost in a machine," when Ryle argues the mind is simply a way of talking about what the body does

Logical Behaviourism

A form of monism that states what we consider 'mental' is just the behaviour of the body.

Physicalism (Identity Theory)

A form of materialism maintaining that mental states are identical to physical brain states.

Problem with Physicalism

A key problem is the violation of Leibnitz’s Law. Brain states are not described as subjective, personal, or meaningful in the same way thoughts are, raising questions about whether they can be truly identical

Leibnitz’s Law

For two things to be identical, they must share all properties.