Being Human (IB core theme)

Mind-Body Problem

Philosophical issue concerning the relationship between the mind and the body.

Substance Dualism

Belief that humans consist of two distinct entities, a mind, and a body.

Descartes Theory

Proposes the mind as an immaterial substance separate from the body.

Behaviourism

Theory that mental states are learned responses to stimuli, focusing on observable behaviors.

Identity Theory

States that mental states are identical to brain states, known as reductive materialism.

Functionalism

Focuses on the function of mental states rather than their material composition.

Qualia

Intrinsic, private, and ineffable properties of sense data, defining individual experiences.

Supervenience

Relationship where one thing is dependent on another, often used in discussing mental properties.

Property Dualism

Belief that some minds have non-physical properties, differentiating it from physicalism.

Zombie Argument

Conceptual scenario where beings lack qualia, used to argue for property dualism.

Epiphenomenalism

The belief that qualia (subjective conscious experiences) have no causal impact on the physical world.

Evolution

The process where genetic mutations occur randomly, providing benefits for survival, suggesting that qualia have a causal role in evolution.

Monism

The philosophical view that there is only one fundamental kind of substance in the world.

Libertarianism

The theory that human beings are free agents capable of making choices despite external influences.

Determinism

The concept that all events, including human actions, are determined by causes external to the will.

Personhood

The attributes and characteristics that define what it means to be a person, including consciousness, identity, autonomy, dignity, and moral agency.

Necessary conditions

Characteristics that are absolutely required for something to belong to a certain category.

John Locke

Philosopher who argued that personal identity is based on consciousness and memory, emphasizing individual rights and personal identity.

Self-awareness

The developmental stages of self-awareness in early childhood, as described by Philippe Rochat's Five Levels of Self-Awareness.

Immanuel Kant

Philosopher who emphasized autonomy and rationality as defining aspects of personhood, focusing on the ability to reason and make moral choices.

Kant's Personhood

Emphasizes inherent dignity, treating individuals as ends, respecting autonomy and moral agency.

Criticisms of Kant's Personhood

Include exclusion of non-rational beings, neglect of emotions and relationships, and universalizability as the sole criterion.

Morality

Principles guiding right and wrong behavior, influenced by culture, religion, and societal norms, shaping human interactions.

Turing Test

Proposed by Alan Turing to test machine intelligence indistinguishable from humans through conversation.

Descartes' Mental Distinctions

Include mind-body dualism, clear and distinct ideas, innate vs. adventitious ideas, facing criticisms like the mind-body problem.

Freedom (Existentialism)

Focuses on individual freedom, responsibility, and meaning of human life, rejecting predetermined meaning.

Nihilism

Rejects inherent meaning, objective moral values, associated with Friedrich Nietzsche, leading to active and passive responses.

Modernism

Cultural movement responding to social changes, emphasizing innovation, rejecting realism, influenced by science and technology.

Relativism

Asserts truth, knowledge, morality are relative, including epistemological, moral, and cultural relativism.

The Self

Explores consciousness, personal identity, debated as unified entity or changing perceptions, contrasted with Buddhist notion of anatta.

Simone de Beauvoir's Theory

Rejects isolated self, emphasizes social construction of identity, intersectionality, and impact of social norms.

Confucius's Relational Self

Focuses on interconnectedness, harmonious relationships, moral cultivation, and societal unity.

Confucius's Theory of Education

Belief in the transformative power of education for personal growth and societal advancement.

Limited Focus on Individual Rights

Emphasis on the collective over the individual, potentially neglecting individual rights and freedoms.

Hierarchical Relationships

Promotion of relationships based on age, social status, and authority, which may lead to power imbalances and limit social mobility.