BM&JChapter1

The Flight From Dualism

Issues Between Dualism and Materialism

  • Distinction of Nature:

    • Preliminary distinction made between physical (material) and mental (psychological) aspects of a person.

  • Physical Features:

    • Includes measurable aspects like weight, genetic make-up, and brain function.

  • Mental Features:

    • Encompasses feelings, thoughts, perceptions, and cognitive abilities.

  • Two Philosophical Views:

    • Dualism:

      • Belief that mental ingredients are fundamentally different from physical ingredients.

    • Materialism:

      • Asserts that both mental and physical aspects can be understood using the same ingredients.

      • Proposes that the complexity of mental experiences is derived from a physical base.

Historical Context

  • Democritus' Philosophy:

    • Proposed that everything is composed of atoms and void, supporting a materialist perspective.

    • Modern materialists have adapted this to argue that all phenomena, including mental states, can be explained through physical science.

Idealism and Its Contrast With Dualism

Overview of Idealism

  • Definition:

    • Idealism posits that material nature should be understood in terms of mental nature, the inverse of materialism.

  • Materialist View:

    • Both physical and mental states can be described similarly.

Arguments Against Dualism

  • Leibniz's Law:

    • If two entities are identical, they share all properties. If mental states lack physical properties (like weight), they are not identical to physical states.

  • Observations & Evidence:

    • Idealism is historically significant but not widely accepted today; dualism is often viewed as discredited alongside vitalism.

Arguments For and Against Dualism

Classic Dualist Arguments

  • Dualist Intuition vs. Materialist Claims:

    • Many intuitive beliefs suggest a split between mental and physical states.

    • Example: Pain lacks mass; physical states possess mass and location.

Resisting Dualism

  • Content of Belief:

    • The distinction between what is believed and the act of believing complicates the argument for dualism.

Modern Materialist Responses

  • A Range Of Views:

    • The discussion includes various materialist perspectives on how to account for mental states.

The Role of Descartes and Doubt

Descartes' Contributions

  • Existential Assertion:

    • Argued for the certainty of existence through the act of thinking (