Metaphysics Of Mind

YEAR 2 - first topic of moral philosophy . Metaphysics of mind . AQA exam board . Definitions etc .

Define phenomenal consciousness

Define phenomenal consciousness

“ What-it’s-like-ness “

The belief that we know what its like to experience certain things .

Example : drinking a cup of hot chocolate particular conscious experience , taste , the smell etc .

Define intentionality

Means being about something

The belief that every thought is about something and our consciousness is always about something . Cannot have a thought about nothing .

Example : ‘ I don’t just remember ; I remember something ‘ . When thinking about nothing , nothingness is what you are thinking about .

What are mental states

Things which we experience inner of ourselves such as thoughts , feelings , desires .

Example : remembering to turn the oven off when finishing cooking , choosing to do homework instead of going to the gym .

What are neurological states

These are objectively observable things which happen as a result of our brains processes such as hormone secretion , neurones firing .

Example : crying because you’re upset , laughing uncontrollably because somethings funny

Define dualism

The belief that the consciousness is beyond the physical realm and inexplainable in terms of the laws of nature and science .

Define Substance Dualism

2 different substances physical + mental ,minds do not depend on bodies to exist , ontologically distinct and independent

Argument of indivisibility

P1. My mind is invisible

P2. My physical body is divisible

P3. Two substances have different properties therefore cannot be the same substance

P4. Mind + body different properties

P5. Mind + body different substances

C. Mind is not my body

Argument of conceivability

P1. Clear understanding of myself as a conscious but not as an extended thing

P2. Understanding , clear + distinctly , of my body as an extended but not conscious thing

P3. Therefore clearly + distinctly I understand myself as an extended but not conscious thing

P4. Whatever I can clearly + distinctly understand has been brought by God + is possible

C. Therefore as a thinking ting can exist apart from my extended body

Argument of Princess Elisabeth of Bohemia

P1. All physical events have physical causes

P2. If the mind is not physical it cannot cause the body to move

P3. From experience I know the mind can cause the body to move

C. Mind is physicalA

Argument of the problem of other minds argument

P1. If substance dualism is true , then we cannot know the mental states of others

P2. We do , on at least some occasions know the mental states of others

C. Therefore substance dualism is false

What is response to problem of other minds

Argument from analogy :

P1. Understand our own actions inn terms of stimulus , mental state and response

P2. Stubbing your toe , feeling that pain , verbally reacting to that ‘ OW ‘

P3. See the stimulus and response in other people

P4. Empathise can understand the pain and know from own experience

C. Conclude that other people have mental states

Define property dualists

Belief that we have a physical mind but consciousness non-physical property

Define interactionism

Belief that consciousness , mental states directly change physical state of the body

Define epiphenomenalism

Belief consciousness by-product of physical processes in brain . Thoughts , feelings desires do not change state of brain .

Define supervenience

One set of facts supervenes on another set of more basic facts

example - materialists believe all mental facts supervene on the physical facts about you

Define an accidental property

Something which is not fundamentally necessary to be something

example - my hair being pink doesn’t change who I am

Define essential property

Something which metaphysically necessary to have those certain properties , part of nature / essence

example - to be a human to have a brain

Define important property

Something which isn’t metaphysically necessary nor not essential

example - being charming or funny you can become un-charming or un-funny

What is a casual factor

one event causes another to happen

Knowledge argument

P1. Mary knows everything about the physical processes involved in colour vision

P2. Learns something when she experiences colour vision

P3. Therefore more to know about colour vision than what is given in a physical account

C. Physicalism is false

Criticism of the knowledge argument ( propositional )

premise 2 false to claim learnt something new . NOT propositional knowledge but acquaintance .knowledge acquainted with phenomenal consciousness / certain qualia

example - celebrity

Criticism for knowledge argument ( ability )

acquires new abilities / skills , capacity to imagine colour learns no new facts about colour vision

example - how to drive a car

Define qualia

subjective qualities which cannot be objectively described

e.g. pain