Mind-brain Type Identity Theory

Mind–Brain Type Identity Theory

The view that each type of mental state is identical to a type of brain state. Mental states are ontologically reducible to brain states.

Ontological Reduction

The terms refer to the same thing but are not interchangeable in a sentence. The terms cannot be swapped and keep identical meaning.  

Dualist criticism of identity

Correlation between mental and brain states does not prove they are identical. It only shows correlation.

Dualist view of MBTIT

Dualists object that even if every mental state correlates with a brain state, this does not show identity, because the qualia is not captured by physical brain descriptions. 

Multiple realisability

The same mental state can be realised by different physical brain states, meaning there isn’t a 1:1 correlation.

Human brain activity as a response

In humans, every mental state still requires some corresponding brain activity.