The Mind Body Problem Our minds seem to be non-physical and different from our bodies. Our bodies seem to be something different from our minds. Are they actually different? What is a mind? What is a body? How do they relate?

Substance Dualism Our bodies and minds are separate things Substance – a “thing” which exists independently from other things (e.g. a horse, a cat, a human). It has properties, but is not a property of another thing Property – a quality that a substance has (e.g. red, round, cold) Substance: Socrates Balding head Grey Hair

Argument for Substance Dualism The Conceivability argument (Descartes): P1: I can doubt that my body exists (from Meditation 1) P2: I cannot doubt that my mind exists (from Meditation 2) P3: Leibniz's Law: A = B if and only if A & B have ALL and ONLY the same properties --------------------------------------------------------- C: So, my mind is not my body

Analogy to the Conceivability Argument P1: I can doubt that I’m drinking H20 P2: I cannot doubt that I’m drinking water P3: Leibniz Law -------------------------------------------------------- C: So, Water is not H20

Descartes’ Divisibility Argument P1: My body is divisible P2: My mind is not divisible P3: Leibniz Law: ----------------------------------------------------- C: So, my mind is not my body

The NDE argument P1: If substance dualism is false, then my mind cannot exist independently from my body *P2: My mind can exists independently from my body ---------------------------------------------------------------- C: So, Substance dualism is true *Support for P2 claims that NDEs are best explained as real afterlife experiences

Princess Elizabeth’s Objection to Descartes How can a totally non-physical mind cause things to happen to a totally physical body? How can a totally physical body cause things to happen to a totally non-physical mind?

Physicalism The mind is the brain itself and nothing more. In other words, mind = brain Three kinds: a) behaviorism b) Identity theory, c) Functionalism

Argument for Physicalism Neuroscience has shown a strong link between what happens to and in our brains and what happens to and in our minds Argument for Physicalism

The Case of Phineas Gage

Against Physicalism A complete physical description of our brains and bodies, even in every detail, still seems to leave out something. What is left out is our personal/subjective experience, the “what it's like for us.”

Inverted Spectrum Case

Property Dualism vs. Substance Dualism Mind is not Body Mind can exist apart from body; in other words, mind & body are independent substances Property Dualism: Mental states are not physical states Mind cannot exist apart from body; in other words mind & body are two aspects of ONE AND SAME substance